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Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide near Tanunda: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UBN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Renmark - Adelaide
MSN:
6253
Location:
Tanunda
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the Mt Kitchener located southeast of Tanunda. All seven occupants were killed, among them Captain Frank P. Gill, pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra near Pine Creek: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1942 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brisbane – Alice Springs – Daly Waters – Batchelor – Darwin
MSN:
1498
YOM:
0
Location:
Pine Creek
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
On the last leg to Darwin, the crew lost his orientation while cruising in rain falls and night. Due to poor visibility, the crew was unable to locate the airport of Darwin and continued over the sea. Few minutes later, pilots realized they were flying over the sea and returned to the continent but could not see the city of Darwin nor its airport. Crew informed ATC he was low of fuel and wanted to land shortly but eventually, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope near Annaburroo Station, in the region of Pine Creek. Rescuers did not find any trace of the aircraft and all operations were suspended few days later. Eventually, the wreckage and all 12 dead bodies were found on June 30, 1942, in an isolated area. The occupants were two pilots and ten US soldiers. The aircraft was built in May 1939 and delivered to Guinea Airways on June 9, 1940.
Probable cause:
Crew lost his orientation due to the failure of both radio compass while flying by night in poor weather conditions (rain falls). Due to low visibility, the crew was unable to establish his real position and to locate the Darwin's Airfield.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Wau

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UTB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5-AT-068
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wau Airport, the right engine failed. The airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in a river located near the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was performing a cargo flight, carrying a load of wood.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after takeoff due to the failure of the right engine.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bulolo – Wau
MSN:
1074
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the single engine airplane landed hard at Wau Airport. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair after cracks were found in the rear fuselage spars.
Probable cause:
Hard landing.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Darwin

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UXI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Darwin – Adelaide
MSN:
1105
YOM:
1937
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft named 'Moresby' departed Darwin Airport at 0535LT bound for Adelaide with 10 soldiers and two crew on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force. Five minutes after takeoff, the right engine caught fire and the crew decided to return to Darwin. On final approach, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing when, in low visibility, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra in Katherine: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1939 at 0750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ABI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Darwin – Katherine – Adelaide
MSN:
1418
YOM:
1938
Location:
Katherine
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying a load of 700 pounds of mail from Darwin to Adelaide with an intermediate stop in Katherine. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered problem to gain height. It eventually stalled and crashed in the Katherine River located near the airport and came to rest in 6 feet of water. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. A. Jukes, pilot,
C. R. Clarke, pilot,
P. I. Donegan, copilot and flight engineer.
Passenger:
A. McDonald, Chief Inspector of Aerodromes in the Northern Territory.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the single runway of only 700 yards was marginal for the type of aircraft. Wheel marks on the runway indicated that there had been five attempts at becoming airborne before the boundary fence prompted one last desperate attempt at lifting off with too little airspeed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Surprise Creek

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Surprise Creek – Port Moresby
MSN:
4019
YOM:
1932
Location:
Surprise Creek (Wai Ungu)
Western (Fly)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. The pilot E. W. Ditton was injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Stinson SR-7B Reliant in Wau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SR-7 Reliant
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Lae
MSN:
9669
YOM:
1936
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Wau to Lae and initiated the takeoff roll in limited visibility due to fog. After liftoff, the aircraft struck a house at full power and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the owner of the house was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
331
YOM:
1932
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A gear failed upon landing at Wau Airport. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was performing an inaugural flight from Salamaua, carrying mail.
Probable cause:
Gear failure upon landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Kaiapit

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UKL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lae – Kaiapit
MSN:
891
YOM:
1929
Location:
Kaiapit
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, just prior to land, the aircraft stalled and hit the ground. It went out of control, veered off the grassy runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It appears that a foreign object came into the injection system and obstructed the fuel supply to the engine that stopped on final approach.
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