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.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Black Cat Creek

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1934
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
4021
YOM:
1932
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:
0
Circumstances:
Struck trees and crashed in Black Cat Creek, in the Bitoi Valley, PNG. The pilot E. D. 'Joss' Crisp departed Salamaua for Wau with a load of general stores, beer and spirits. Caught in severe downdraft from an electrical storm in the Bitoi Valley, forced into tree tops. The forward fuselage and cabin broke away and fell 70 feet to the ground, the cargo spilling out of the shattered cabin. Crisp was not injured but was strapped into the remains of the cockpit in the tree tops. Crisp climbed down the trees to the ground to camp in torrential rain and began walking out next day. He was found by a searching ground party the following day.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF in Wau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Fairey III
Operator:
Registration:
J9792
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Khartoum – Wau
MSN:
F.1192
YOM:
1928
Location:
Wau
Western Bahr el Ghazal (غرب بحر الغزال)
Country:
South Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Khartoum on a flight to Wau. Upon arrival, while trying to land on the Nile River, the airplane crashed. Two occupants were rescued and the third one was killed.

Crash of a Fokker F3 in Salamaua

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F3
Operator:
Pacific Aerial Transport
Registration:
VH-UQF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
1663
YOM:
1922
Location:
Salamaua
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Salamaua Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing near the Frisco River. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction caused by faulty maintenance.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Bulolo

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UHJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Bulolo
MSN:
466
YOM:
1928
Location:
Bulolo
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:
On the last segment, while landing, the aircraft was caught by strong winds. The single engine airplane hit the ground, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While both occupants were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Caught by strong winds upon landing.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.27 in the Kuper Range

Date & Time: May 31, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.27
Operator:
Ellyou Goldfields Development Corporation
Registration:
VH-ULK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
W9/1
YOM:
1929
Location:
Kuper Range
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Salamaua to Wau, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Misim located in the Kuper Range, some 10 km east of Wau. The occupant fate remains unknown.
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