Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B in Nausori

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-FAX
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14012
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a landing accident at Nausori Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B near Somosomo: 16 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-FAL
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Suva – Somosomo
MSN:
14033
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While approaching Somosomo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and a limited visibility when the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Tavani located 18 km from the airport. Three passengers were seriously injured while 16 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Apparently due to the lack of visibility, the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to be too low and to struck the mountain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 2 in Viti Levu

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-FAQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Suva – Nadi
MSN:
5008
YOM:
1951
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, Captain Brian McCook, left Suva-Nausori Airport at 0756LT Bound for Nadi. Enroute, while cruising at low altitude, the airplane hit trees and crashed in a gorge called Wainivatumbuso, near Nasauvere. Bleeding heavily from gashes to his face and legs, he walked through dense undergrowth until found by a native out pig hunting. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 2 on Bau Island

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-FAO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Savusavu – Suva
MSN:
5005
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet on a flight from Savusavu to Suva, the pilot switched the fuel tank selector when all three engines lost power. He attempted an emergency landing on a sandbar on Bau Island but all undercarriage collapsed on landing and the aircraft came to rest. All eight occupants evacuated the cabin safely while the aircraft was later damaged beyond repair by salty water.
Source & photos via http://www.goodall.com.au
Probable cause:
All engines lost power due to an air lock in a fuel tank.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Labasa

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-FAL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Labasa – Nadi
MSN:
6707
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Labasa Airport, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Beqa Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1945 at 1058 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4022
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Suva - Suva
MSN:
1470
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The seaplane stalled and spun into water some 10 miles south of Beqa Island, while operating with No. 6 squadron. During a post maintenance test flight, the aircraft was deliberately stalled at 5,500 feet but entered an uncontrollable spin and dove into the sea near Beqa Island. Four crew and eight passengers were killed while two crew and four passengers got clear of the wreckage before it sank and survived.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Nausori: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1944 at 1649 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4550
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Funafuti – Nausori
MSN:
5899
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Funafuti (Tuvalu Islands) to Nausori with a load of bomb. The approach and landing were completed in strong cross winds and upon landing, the twin engine aircraft went of control, skidded and veered off runway to the right before coming to rest in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The explosion on final impact was largely contributed by the presence of bombs.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Nausori: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2065
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nausori - Nausori
MSN:
414-6511
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
After completing an antisubmarine patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean, the twin engine aircraft was returning to its base in Nausori. On approach, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few miles off shore. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 4 crew members.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/Sgt Alistair Pinching,
W/O Jack Boesen,
F/Sgt Cyril Corbett,
F/Sgt Anthony Madsen.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Suva: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1943 at 2050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4002
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Suva - Suva
MSN:
1334
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from the Laucala Bay, off Suva, while on a night training sortie, the seaplane reached the height of 200 feet and then plunged into the bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The elevator trim tabs were wrongly set by the crew, causing the aircraft to crash.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth off Nadi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ522
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nadi - Nadi
MSN:
NZ-1
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While performing a training flight at a height of 2,000 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that dove and crashed into the sea, few hundred yards off shore. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the RNZAF, the crew was performing a training flight with another DH.60. Both crews were testing a machine gun and it is possible that the crew of NZ522 was shot by mistake.