Australian Capital Territory | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from runway 30 at Canberra Airport, while on a local training mission, the left engine lost power. Due to a technical issue on the regulator, the crew was unable to shot down the engine and to feather the propeller. The pilot-in-command continued to the south and while approaching Mt Pleasant, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames at Duntroon, west of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt H. N.MacDonald, pilot,
F/Sgt N. H. Charlton, copilot,
Sgt I. A. Makrill, navigator,
Sgt M. C. Coombe, signaler.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Tugan LJW7 Gannet in Canberra

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1942 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tugan LJW7 Gannet

Operator:

Registration:

A14-5

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

TA-59

YOM:

1937

Location:

Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Canberra Airport, the port engine failed. The aircraft lost height, impacted trees and crashed 3 km from the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt B. W. Graham,
Sgt R. C. Kupsch,
Sgt J. P. Craig,
Sgt G. G. Smith.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Canberra: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1940 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-97

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Melbourne – Canberra

MSN:

414-1951

YOM:

1940

Location:

Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Melbourne-Moorabbin to Canberra on behalf of the Australian Government, carrying three Ministers and their staff. On final approach to Canberra in ideal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion some 2 km short of runway. Emergency teams were promptly at the scene but nothing could be done to save the 10 occupants.
Crew:
F/L Robert Edward Hitchcock,
P/O Richard Frederick Wiesener,
Cpl John Frederick Palmer,
AC1 Charles Joseph Crosdale.
Passengers:
Brig Geoffrey Austin Street, Minister for the Army and Repatriation,
James Valentine Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation,
Sir Henry Somer Gullett, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Gen Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White, Chief of the General Staff,
Lt Col Francis Thornthwaite, Staff Officer to General White,
Richard Edwin Elford, Fairbairn's private secretary.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the Board of Inquiry found that it was most likely due to the aircraft stalling on approach, resulting in loss of control at a height that was insufficient for recovery.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Canberra: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1926

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.9

Operator:

Registration:

A6-28

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Topographic

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Richmond - Canberra

MSN:

C6323

Location:

Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

254

Circumstances:

Aircraft was carrying a pilot and a photographer for a topographic mission over the Murrumbidgee River. Flying at an altitude of about 150 feet, the plane was about to land at Ainslie, near Canberra, when it nose-dived and crashed in flames to the ground. A farm-hand, named Walter Johnston, who was ploughing 50 yards away, saw the smash and rushed to the scene. By the time he arrived the aeroplane had burst into flame. After crashing, the plane burst into flames and Flying-Officer Pitt was burnt to death. Observer Callendar was terribly injured and died in the Canberra Hospital a few hours after the accident. With the pilot and the observer dead, the cause of the disaster probably will never be known. Onlookers who saw the smash say the machine, when about to make a landing, seemed to lose flying speed and nose-dived to the ground at a terrific rate.
Source: www.3squadron.org.au

Probable cause:

An inquest on the victims was held on Friday when the opinion was reached that the crash was caused by an error of judgment on the part of the pilot. Expert evidence was given by Flight Lieutenant Hepburn, Director of Works and Buildings, RAAF, Melbourne. He said that he had instructed the two men to report to him at Canberra at 0930LT on Thursday, and the machine was sighted shortly after that time. It appeared in good order, but passed the landing ground that had been mapped out and attempted to land from a north-westerly direction. When the pilot shut off the engine the aeroplane stalled. It spun in the air and dived about 100 feet to the ground. He was unable to recognise Flying-Officer Pitt's body. The cause of the mishap, in the opinion of witness, was an error of judgment. The majority of aeroplane accidents are due to the same cause. The machine was valued at £3,000.