Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air in Wondai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1990 at 2248 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-LFH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cairns – Wondai – Camden
MSN:
LW-255
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2654
Captain / Total hours on type:
285.00
Circumstances:
Beech E90 VH-LFH was being flown by the owner as pilot-in-command for the flight. The pilot had submitted a flight plan nominating a private category, single pilot, instrument flight rules (IFR) flight, from Cairns to Wondai and thence to Camden. VH-LFH, with six passengers on board, departed Cairns at 1830 hours EST and arrived at Wondai at 2142 hours after an uneventful flight. One passenger left the aircraft at Wondai. The aircraft was refuelled with 800 litres of aviation turbine fuel and the pilot reported taxying for Runway 36 at Wondai to Brisbane Flight Service at 2243 hours EST. The aircraft was issued an airways clearance at 2245 hours which the pilot acknowledged correctly. The last radio contact with the aircraft was at 2248 hours when the pilot reported airborne. Witnesses observed the aircraft take-off and a short time later heard the sound of impact. The aircraft struck a line of small trees slightly left of the runway extended centreline and 600 metres from the end of the runway in a wings level attitude and in a very shallow descent. Forty-eight metres beyond this point, the aircraft impacted the ground and began to break up. It then contacted a number of large trees and caught fire, finally coming to rest 90 metres further on. A passenger was seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The circumstances leading to the development of this accident could not be established conclusively. However, the evidence supports the following as probable factors:
- The pilot might not have been aware of the human factors aspects associated with dark night take-offs.
- The pilot could have been influenced by stress and/or fatigue.
- The aircraft was taking off towards dark textureless terrain and no visible horizon.
- By transmitting his airborne call very soon after lift-off, the pilot was not devoting his full attention to flying the aircraft.
- The pilot became disoriented and placed the aircraft in a shallow descent as it accelerated after take-off.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Camden

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A4-264
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Camden - Camden
MSN:
264
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Camden Airport. On final approach, the pilot-in-command initiated a go-around when the aircraft stalled and crashed. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2B in Camden: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1954 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-DHD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Camden - Camden
MSN:
04400
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight to be familiarized on this aircraft that was registered on the Australian registry two days earlier. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane crashed in a field and was destroyed. A pilot was killed while two other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Cpt T. H. Dalton, pilot,
Reginald C. Adsett, examiner, †
R. H. Jarvis, assistant to Mr. Adsett.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Camden

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12285
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Performing a flight on behalf of the Australian Civil Aviation Authority, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Camden and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414-08 Hudson IVA in Camden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1950 at 0057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-SMK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camden – Dubbo
MSN:
414-6043
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the aircraft nosed down first, dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Richard Cruicksbanks, pilot,
Robert Bruce Purvis, copilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was stated that the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW by 150 to 300 kilos at the time of the accident and that the right engine was not running at impact. These two facts were not considered as contributory factors. Despite the fact that the pilot was able to fly this kind of aircraft, he was not in possession of a valid license at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder in Camden: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-35160
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 5 km south of Camden. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA in Picton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-152
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camden - Camden
MSN:
414-6081
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie from Camden, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a prairie located in Picton, south of Camden. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Sgt S. K. Scott, pilot,
F/Sgt H. B. L. Johns, navigator,
Sgt B. C. J. Pearson, wireless operator,
Sgt G. D. Voyzey,
Sgt G. T. Lawson.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA near Dapto: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-173
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Camden - Camden
MSN:
414-6426
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
705
Circumstances:
The crew left Camden Airport at 1645LT on a maritime patrol flight off the Australian coast to locate enemy submarines. On the return leg, while cruising in low visibility due to the night, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located some 3 miles west of Dapto. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
Sgt Norman Baxter Clark, pilot,
F/Sgt Bernard James Hubbard, observer,
Sgt Joseph Hall Iredell, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Geoffrey Alfred Rich, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Pittsburgh: 13 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1937 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC13730
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newark – Camden – Pittsburgh – Chicago
MSN:
1256
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
TW015A
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Airport, at a height of 500 feet, the aircraft rolled to the left, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed short of runway. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined by the US Bureau of Air Commerce that ice had built up on its wings and in the slot between the edge of its ailerons and the wing tips, and that the latter condition must have changed the airfoil contour and disrupted the flow of air around the structure, leading to a loss of control. Soon after this accident, improved deicing equipment was announced to help deal with the threat to aircraft caused by the build up of ice.

Crash of a Lockheed 9D Orion in Camden: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1931 at 1820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC12221
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Newark – Camden – Washington DC
MSN:
178
YOM:
1931
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Camden Airport, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed on a golf course, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. First accident involving a Lockheed 9 Orion.