Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Cairns: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairns – Wau
MSN:
1431
YOM:
1938
Location:
Cairns
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cairns Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a mangrove. Both crew members were killed. They were performing a positioning flight to Wau to evacuate refugees.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bulolo – Wau
MSN:
1074
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the single engine airplane landed hard at Wau Airport. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair after cracks were found in the rear fuselage spars.
Probable cause:
Hard landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Marble Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.66 Hercules
Operator:
Stephens Aviation
Registration:
VH-UJO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
344
YOM:
1929
Location:
Marble Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau. Approaching the destination area, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Marble Creek. The wreckage was found four days later and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II in Wau: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
6080
YOM:
1934
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wau, the twin engine aircraft was too low following a poor judgement on part of the pilot. He attempted to initiate a go around and increased engine power but the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area near the airport. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ron E. Doyle.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Mubo

Date & Time: May 9, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
Operator:
Stephens Aviation
Registration:
VH-UJB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wau – Salamaua
MSN:
334
YOM:
1929
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Mubo while approaching Salamaua. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all nine occupants were unhurt.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Waipali

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UMN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Wau – Lae
MSN:
LASCO.1
YOM:
1929
Location:
Waipali
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Wau to Lae, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Waipali. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Stinson SR-7B Reliant in Wau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SR-7 Reliant
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Lae
MSN:
9669
YOM:
1936
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Wau to Lae and initiated the takeoff roll in limited visibility due to fog. After liftoff, the aircraft struck a house at full power and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the owner of the house was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Ramu

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Ramu
MSN:
135
YOM:
1925
Location:
Ramu
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Ramu, the aircraft ran into high grass, went out of control and came to rest. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Black Cat Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
6068
YOM:
1934
Location:
Black Cat Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau, carrying one pilot and supplies to the Black Cat mining area. While approaching Wau, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot Colin Ferguson, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
331
YOM:
1932
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A gear failed upon landing at Wau Airport. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was performing an inaugural flight from Salamaua, carrying mail.
Probable cause:
Gear failure upon landing.
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