Australia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While completing a training sortie, the pilot became lost. Due to fuel exhaustion, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing on a beach located in Coffs Harbour. While all four crew members were rescued, the aircraft was lost. The accident occurred after a flight of almost 6 ½ hours, two hours beyond the accepted endurance.
Crew:
F/O James M. Swann, pilot,
A. H. Morton, wireless operator and air gunner 2.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I into Bass Strait: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-32

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

East Sale - East Sale

MSN:

414-1883

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed East Sale Airfield at 1944LT to carry out practice DR9. This practice was a night flight from Base-Flinders-Currie-Hogan Group-Base. The aircraft was on wireless silence and the maximum endurance was seven hours. The airplane failed to return to base and all searches have proved negative.
Crew:
P/O John James Bowman, pilot,
P/O Alan Joseph Malone, navigator,
P/O Harry Robert Alfred Guymer, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Alexander Frederick McDonald, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O John Alexander Buchanan, air gunner.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Exmouth Gulf: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

08294

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Exmouth - Exmouth

MSN:

1208

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a normal takeoff, the pilot initiated a steep climb turn to the right then to the left to come back over the mat. During this turn and about 200 feet, the port engine quit and the airspeed dropped to 85 knots. The pilot added power on the starboard engine that also failed. A full stall crash landing was made just short of the field and the seaplane went over on its back. The pilot was killed and seven others occupants were injured.
Crew (VP-FAW-10):
Ens John Edward Hetherman, pilot, †
Lt(jg) Thoas L. Hine,
Ens Herman H. Hougland,
Rm2c Harold L. Munroe,
Amm3c Andrew L. Ruykendall,
Aom3c Jake N. Stice,
Rm3c John P. Jones,
Rm2c Dennis L. Garchow.

Probable cause:

After the accident the fuel pump on the starboard engine was found to be corroded. Salt water was found in the regulator unit and fuel control unit. There was no gasoline present in carburetor. The port engine was in the same condition. The spark plugs on both engines had salt deposits at the base. The machinist stated it was his opinion that the plane was warmed and took-off with wings at high angle of attack, so that the water drained back of the sump, leveling off the water drained into the sump and the fuel system causing both engines to quit. The day prior to the accident, water having been found in fuel, the tanks were drained and refilled, fuel pumps replaced with pumps taken from another plane, and the carburetor checked.

Crash of a North American B-25D-5 Mitchell in Woodstock

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1943

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

41-30045

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

87-8210

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

A tyre burst during the takeoff procedure and the airplane crashed off the side of the runway and was destroyed. All crew members were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during takeoff after a tyre burst.

Crash of a Boeing RB-17C Flying Fortress in Bakers Creek: 40 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1943 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

40-2072

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mackay - Port Moresby

MSN:

2073

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Mackay Airport on a flight to Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome, carrying a crew of six and 35 US soldiers who were returning to PNG following an R&R period. Few minutes after takeoff, while climbing in foggy conditions, the airplane named 'Miss Every Morning Fixin' crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located in Bakers Creek, some 8 km south of Mackay Airport. A passenger (Sgt Robert Foye) was seriously injured and was the only survivor as all 40 other occupants were killed. This was the deadliest plane crash in the Pacific area in WWII and remains the worst aviation accident in Australia.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Vern J. Gidcumb Jr., pilot,
F/O William C. Erb, copilot,
2nd Lt Jack A. Ogren, navigator,
Sgt David E. Tileston, radio operator,
S/Sgt Lovell Dale Curtis, crew chief,
S/Sgt Frank E. Whelchel, crew chief.
Passengers:
Pfc Jerome Abraham,
Cpt John O. Berthold,
T/5 William A. Briggs,
Sgt Dan H. Busse,
T/Sgt James A. Copeland,
Sgt Carl A. Cunningham,
T/5 George A. Ehrman,
Pvt James E. Finney,
Sgt Leo E. Fletcher,
T/Sgt Alfred H. Frezza,
Pfc Norman J. Goetz,
S/Sgt Roy A. Hatlen,
S/Sgt John W. Hilsheimer,
Pfc Vernon Johnson,
Sgt Donald B. Kyper,
Sgt Charlie O. LaRue,
Pvt Raymond D. Longabaugh,
Pfc Kenneth W. Mann,
Cpl Marlin D. Metzger,
Pvt Charles D. Montgomery,
Pfc John W. Parker,
Pfc Frank S. Penska,
Maj George N. Powell,
Sgt Anthony Rudnick,
Cpl Charles W. Sampson,
Pfc Arnold Seidel,
Cpl Jacob O. Skaggs Jr.,
Cpl Franklin F. Smith,
Cpl Raymond H. Smith,
Pfc Frederick C. Sweet,
Cpl Edward Tenny,
Pfc Dale Van Fosson,
Pvt Ruben L. Vaugh,
Charles M. Williams.
Sources & photos: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld46.htm

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Hughes: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1943 at 0825 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-186

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hughes - Hughes

MSN:

414-6342

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2104

Circumstances:

The aircraft was at 500 feet with gear extended over the threshold of strip with the port airscrew feathered due to engine problems. The pilot raised the undercarriage and applied power to starboard engine, but the aircraft pulled to port and begun to loose height and crashed one mile north east of Hughes Strip. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact and ensuing fire.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt John Frederick Mason, pilot,
F/Lt John Richard Wood, copilot,
F/O Thomas Wallace Swann,
F/Sgt Raymond James Flaherty,
F/Sgt Robert Donald Woods,
Sgt George Ridgway Rowland,
F/O Louis George Knauer.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon near Warruwi: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1943 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

A34-51

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Warruwi - Batchelor

MSN:

2040

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Warruwi on a return flight to Batchelor, carrying two passengers and one pilot. Few minutes after takeoff, the pilot flew low to investigate a lugger hidden up a tidal creek. While circling around for a better look, he misjudged the height, causing the airplane to struck a tree and to crash. The lugger was crewed by Dutch servicemen who had escaped from the NEI (Netherland East Indies). The Dutchmen rescued the survivors of the crash and also made radio contact with Darwin to report the crash. A passenger was killed.
Crew:
F/O John Slade, pilot.
Passengers:
F/O F. H. Porter,
F/O Leslie John Keith Olney. †

Probable cause:

The pilot misjudged the distance between the airplane and the ground, resulting in an in-flight collision with a tree and a subsequent crash.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort VII off Jervis Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1943 at 1010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

A9-115

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Nowra - Nowra

MSN:

115

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While practicing low level torpedo attack exercise, the pilot was apparently forced to make an evasive action when he lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea 16 km off Jervis Bay. Three crew members were killed and one was seriously injured.
Crew:
Sgt Geoffrey Walter Parker, pilot, †
W/O Irwin Bruce Watson, observer, †
Sgt James Evans, wireless operator, †
Sgt John Perrin, air gunner.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Port Stephens

Date & Time: May 24, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

A24-39

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1100

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing on rough seas, the airplane sank off Port Stephens and was lost. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell in Batchelor

Date & Time: May 22, 1943

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

N5-152

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Batchelor - Batchelor

MSN:

93-12591

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, the airplane hit a gun pit, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a field. All five crew members escaped unhurt and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (18th Squadron):
P/O B. Wetters, pilot,
Cpt Eccles, pilot,
Cpt Jesserun, navigator,
F. Weber, wireless operator,
Vernon McLean, air gunner.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the airplane was not properly aligned with the runway centerline during the takeoff procedure.

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