Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Darwin - Dawrin
MSN:
414-1859
YOM:
1940
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 13th Squadron. After simulating an aerial attack, the pilot initiated a steep descent. Approaching the ground, he pulled up the control column but the airplane impacted the ground with its left wing. The left engine was torn off and the pilot regain control for few seconds before the aircraft eventually crashed into the sea, some 250 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Murray Charles Davies,
F/O Paul John Wallace Keely,
Sgt Maxwell Alexander Hipkins,
LAC James Curry.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment on part of the pilot who did not evaluate correctly the distance with the ground while simulating an attack.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth near Mount Brockman

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Charles N. K. Bell
Registration:
VH-UAR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Darwin - Oenpelli
MSN:
366
YOM:
1927
Location:
Mount Brockman
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Darwin to Oenpelli, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Mount Brockman, some 45 km south of Oenpelli. The pilot, sole on board, was on a delivery mission to Oenpelli with 'Christmas Supplies' on board. The aircraft was wrecked and the pilot was seriously injured.

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 General Aircraft ST-18 Croydon into the Timor Sea

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1936
Type of aircraft:
General Aircraft ST-18 Croydon
Operator:
Claude Ronald Anson
Registration:
G-AECB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Darwin – Croydon
MSN:
501
YOM:
1936
Location:
Timor Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While returning from Darwin to Croydon and flying over the Timor Sea, the crew made several navigation errors and eventually decided to ditch the airplane in the Seringapatam Reef. The airplane came to rest into the lagoon located some 300 km off Cape Leveque, Western Australia. All four occupants were rescued by local fishermen while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.
Probable cause:
Navigation error caused by a compass failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Aurangabad

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1927
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Dennis M. M. Rooke
Registration:
G-EBQJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Aurangabad - Darwin
MSN:
371
YOM:
1927
Location:
Aurangabad
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Dennis M. M. Rooke, pilot and owner of this aircraft named 'Marjorie', was performing a flight from England to Australia. Shortly after takeoff from Aurangabad, en route to Darwin, the aircraft hit a palm tree and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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