Broome

Shortly after takeoff from runway 10 at Broome Airport, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed in a mangrove. All seven occupants were injured and quickly rescued. The airplane was en route to the Mungalalu-Truscott AFB located in the Anjo Peninsula.

The aircraft departed Broome on a charter flight to Koolan Island, WA. At about 0645 Western Standard Time1, when the aircraft was at an altitude of about 9,500 feet, the pilot noticed a drop in the engine torque indication with a corresponding drop in the engine oil pressure indication. The pilot increased the power lever setting but the engine torque and oil indications continued to reduce, all other engine indications were normal. During an interview with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) the pilot stated that he felt a power loss associated with the drop in indicated engine torque. The pilot diverted to the nearest airstrip, which was Beagle Bay, WA. He stated that the low oil pressure warning light illuminated so he shut the engine down and prepared for an emergency landing. The pilot reported that on the final approach to the airstrip he realized that the aircraft was too high and its airspeed was too fast. The aircraft touched down about mid way along the runway and overran the end of the runway by about 200 metres. The aircraft impacted a mound of dirt, coming to rest upside down. The pilot, who was the only occupant sustained minor injuries. Examination of the aircraft by a third party and inspection of the photographs taken of the accident site, revealed that the engine, left main gear and nose gear had separated from the airframe during the accident sequence. There was a significant amount of oil present on the underside of the aircraft, indicating that the oil had leaked from the engine during operation. The
engine was removed from the accident site as an assembly by a third party. The propeller was removed and the engine was shipped to an engine overhaul facility where a disassembly and
examination was conducted under the supervision of the ATSB.

On 30 August 2004, shortly before 1200 Western Standard Time, the owner-pilot of a twin-engine Cessna Aircraft Company 421C Golden Eagle (C421) aircraft, registered HB-LRW, commenced his takeoff from runway 32 at El Questro Aircraft Landing Area (ALA). The private flight was to Broome, where the pilot intended resuming the aircraft delivery flight from Switzerland to Perth. The available documentation indicated that the flight segments en route to Australia had all been to international or major aerodromes. The pilot of a Cessna Aircraft Company 210 (C210) and his two passengers in the runway 32 parking area witnessed the takeoff. Those witnesses reported that the C421 pilot carried out a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft prior to boarding for the takeoff. During that inspection, he was observed preparing for, and conducting a fuel drain check under the left wing, and to have removed some weed-like material from the right main wheel. He then loaded a small amount of personal luggage into the aircraft cabin, before he and the sole passenger boarded. The C210 pilot witness, who reported having observed a number of twin-engine aircraft operations at another aerodrome, did not comment on the nature of the pilot's start and engines run-up checks. The passenger witnesses reported that the pilot of the C421 made a number of unsuccessful attempts to start the left engine, before reverting to starting the right engine. He then started the left engine and moved the aircraft clear of the C210 in order to conduct his engine run-up checks. The passenger witnesses reported that during those checks they heard a 'frequency vibration' as the C421 pilot manipulated the engines' controls. The witnesses at the parking area reported that the C421 pilot taxied the aircraft onto the runway and applied power to commence a rolling takeoff. They, together with a hearing witness located to the north of the ALA indicated that the engines sounded 'normal' throughout the takeoff. Witnesses who observed the takeoff reported that the aircraft accelerated away 'briskly'. The pilot witness stated that the take-off roll and lift-off from the runway appeared similar to other twin-engine aircraft takeoffs that he had observed. The witnesses at the parking area also stated that, shortly after lift-off from the runway, the aircraft banked slightly to the left at an estimated 10 to 15 degrees angle of bank and drifted left before striking the trees along the side of the runway and impacting the ground. There was no report of any objects falling from the aircraft, or of any smoke or vapour emanating from the aircraft during the takeoff. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact forces and post-impact fire. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

The crew was completing a positioning flight to Broome to pick up oil rig workers to Portuguese Timor on behalf of the Burma Oil Company. The approach and landing were completed in heavy rain falls due to monsoon. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and lost its undercarriage and engines before coming to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Shortly after takeoff from Broome Airfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a mangrove located in Roebuck Creek, near the airport. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was written off.

Crashed on an early morning departure from Broome on behalf of the 43rd squadron. No casualties.

En route to Broome, the airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter (Mitsubishi Zero). The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in a field located near Carnot Peak, west of Beagle Bay. Three passengers and a crew member were killed while eight other occupants were rescued.

Shortly after takeoff from Broome Airport, while climbing at a height of some 600 feet, the four engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the Bay of Broome, 10 km offshore. Upon impact, the airplane broke in two, both wings separated and the fuselage sank within three minutes. Two passengers (Sgt Donoho and Sgt Beatty) were able to swim to shore and were rescued. Unfortunately, Sgt Beatty died the next day from injuries sustained. Thus Sgt Donoho was the only survivor. All passengers were US soldiers joining their base in Indonesia.
Crew:
Maj Edson Eugene Kester, pilot,
Cpt William Ragsdale Jr., copilot.
Passengers:
Sgt Melvin O. Donoho,
Sgt Willard J. Beatty,
Cpt Charles A. Stafford,
Keats Poad,
2nd Lt Richard L. Taylor,
S/Sgt Howard C. Cliff,
S/Sgt John M. Rex,
S/Sgt Elvin P. Westcott,
Sgt Samuel F. Foster,
Cpl Jack T. Taylor,
Pvt Richard G. Sheetz,
2nd Lt Howard K. Petschel,
Cpt Charles A. Stafford,
Cpt Harry W. Markey,
Pvt Joseph N. Gordon,
Pfc Nicholas D. Bunardzya,
Pvt Clarence B. Johnson,
S/Sgt Leo D. Steinmetz,
Cpl Hubert McDonald.

The floatplane named 'Circe' was performing a flight from Indonesia (Jakarta and Cilacap) to Sydney on behalf of Qantas Airways, carrying 18 'refugees', women and children, escaping the war. While in cruising altitude some 400 km south of Cilacap, it was shot down by a Japanese bomber that was performing a maritime patrol flight from Denpasar. Out of control, the Empire Flying Boat crashed into the sea and was not recovered. All 22 occupants were killed.

The crew was performing a flight from Perth to Darwin with an intermediate stop in Broome. At night, the crew overflew Broome as he was unable to locate the airport. He continued to the northeast until the fuel tanks were empty. Due to a fuel exhaustion, the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field located 10 km southwest of Mungalalu-Truscott AFB, some 383 miles northeast of Broome. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site, and all six occupants were rescued few days later.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ray Van Diver, pilot,
Mel Lewis, copilot,
Sgt Buck Lambert, flight engineer,
Cpl Mal Scharp, radio operator.
Passengers:
David Campbell,
Jack Lyons.
Photos: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c-53/41-20066.html