Country
Vanuatu

Crash of a Short S.25 Sandringham 4 in Port Vila

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sandringham
Operator:
Registration:
VH-EBW
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
SH.30C
YOM:
1944
Location:
Port Vila
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing in the harbor of Port Vila, ready for takeoff, the pilot in command was apparently forced to make an evasive maneuver due to the presence of canoe's crossing his path. Doing so, the seaplane hit coral that punctured the bottom of the fuselage, causing water to penetrate into the aircraft that sank on its nose and was partially submerged. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.
Photos via http://www.aussieairliners.org/

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Luganville

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3529
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15205/26650
YOM:
1944
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered to the right, went off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest into trees. The aircraft was written off but there were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Malekula Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4570
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Vila - Port Vila
MSN:
6138
Location:
Malekula Island
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Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Port Vila Airport on a maritime patrol flight but failed to return. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage and the four dead bodies were found six weeks later on the slope of a mountain on Malekula Island.
Crew:
F/Lt Francis Rolston,
P/O Norman Underwood,
F/O Alexander McInnes,
LAC Peter Crees.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Luganville: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
48280
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Overshot on landing, hit an obstacle and crashed. Three crewmen were killed while all six other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed P-1 Ventura off Luganville: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1944 at 1227 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4538
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville - Luganville
MSN:
5740
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing exercise over the Palikulo Bay, off Luganville. The twin engine aircraft left Luganville Airport in the morning, and while performing a turn, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that overturned and dove into the sea few yards off shore. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (9th Squadron):
F/L Gordon McLachlan,
F/L Bernard O'Fagan,
F/O Maxwell Harwood,
F/O Lionel Wood,
P/O Augustine Thurston,
Lt R. Fresb,
A. Stinson, air gunner.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Luganville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
08386
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1310
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff with depth charges and exploded.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Cape Queiros: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1944 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4520
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Guadalcanal - Luganville
MSN:
5533
Location:
Espíritu Santo
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching Vanuatu in heavy rain falls, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Cape Queiros. On site, no survivor was found.
Crew:
Flight Lieutenant Peter Wood,
Pilot Officer Francis Baird,
Flight Sergeant Robert Carter,
Sergeant Thomas Murray,
Flight Sergeant Brian Vesty,
Corporal Edward Ayrey,
Leading Aircraftman Raymond Goff.
Probable cause:
According to officials, an engine was on fire on approach when crew lost control of the aircraft in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Luganville

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23722
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9584
YOM:
1943
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft bell landed for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL off Luganville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23711
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9573
YOM:
1943
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea 24 km off Luganville, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert H. Healy,
2nd Lt Augustus W. Miller,
Cpl Joseph E. O'Connell,
M/Sgt Harry D. Wlodarsky.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Luganville: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942 at 0325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2055
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville - Luganville
MSN:
414-6614
YOM:
1942
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Luganville-Norsup Airport, the twin engine aircraft entered a steep rate of climb, stalled and crashed into the sea. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/O William Lauchlan,
Sgt Stephen Bishop,
F/O Lister Mulholland,
Sgt Maxwell Walker,
Sgt John Cornish,
LAC James Ferguson,
AC1 Noel Fowler.
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