Royal Victorian Aero Club | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The single engine aircraft, owned by Australian National Airways, was piloted by Gertrude McKenzie who was taking boys from the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage for joy flights. While preparing for take off, the aircraft collided with another De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth. Registered VH-UHS, it was owned by the Royal Victorian Aero Club and piloted by Florence Wurts who was also taking boys from the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage for joy flights. Both aircraft suffered an extensive fire and were destroyed. While both occupants of VH-UNP were slightly injured, the pilot of VH-UHS, Miss Florence Wurts was killed and the young passenger was injured.

Probable cause:

The exact causes and circumstances of the collision remain unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Ballarat

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1938

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UPU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Melbourne - Melbourne

MSN:

545

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2800

Circumstances:

While overflying the city of Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collide with a fence and crashed. Both occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.