Date & Time: Jan 20, 1942 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-79
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-1933
YOM:
1940
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
4
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
7
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200-300 feet, the left engine caught fire. The airplane stalled and crashed on the runway, bursting into flames. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt Robert Wylie Cuming, pilot,
P/O Robert Henry Martin, copilot,
P/O P. H. Richards,
Sgt J. Bessell-Browne.
Passengers:
Sgt A. E. Blake,
Sgt Henry Jennings Dean,
Sgt Kevin Henry Kelaher,
LAC O. F. E. Crawford,
LAC Edmund Geoffrey Mears,
LAC Vincent Harold Smith,
LAC Frank Morris.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was overloaded, which affected the operation of the port engine that caught fire during the initial climb. A precipitated and incorrect trim adjustment on part of the crew and/or a structural failure following the loss of the port engine may be considered as contributing factors.