Lenakel (Tanna Island) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Port Vila following an uneventful flight from Lenakel, all three engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck coconut trees and crashed in a pasture. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all occupants were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion. It is believed that the fuel selector was positioned on the main fuel tanks which were empty at the time of the accident while fuel remained in the auxiliary tanks.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander near Lenakel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

F-OCRH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lenakel - Port Vila

MSN:

221

YOM:

1970

Location:

Lenakel (Tanna Island)

All Vanuatu

Country:

Vanuatu

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lenakel Airport, en route to Port Vila, the pilot wanted to show cattle to a passenger and decided to reduce his altitude when the twin engine airplane struck trees. Out of control, it crashed inverted in an open field located about 20 km from Lenakel Airfield. A passenger was killed while seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 2 on Mt Tokugmera: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1966

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover

Operator:

Registration:

VP-PAD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lenakel – Ipao

MSN:

5002

YOM:

1947

Location:

Mt Tokugmera (Tanna Island)

All Vanuatu

Country:

Vanuatu

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1853

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed Lenakel Airstrip (Tanna Island) on a flight to Ipao, Futuna Island, Vanuatu. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and as the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted. Three days later, the burned wreckage was found in a gorge located on Mt Tokugmera (1,084 meters high) located in the center of Tanna Island. All eight occupants were killed, including the airline's Chief Pilot and Operations Manager, Paul H. Burton.