Country
code

New Caledonia

Crash of a Beechcraft 200C Super King Air in Nouméa

Date & Time: Sep 9, 2014 at 1150 LT
Operator:
Registration:
F-GRSO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lifou – Nouméa
MSN:
BL-11
YOM:
1980
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Lifou Airport on an ambulance flight to Nouméa-Magenta Airport, carrying two passengers and two pilots. On approach to Magenta Airport, the crew followed the checklist and lower the landing gears. As all three green light failed to came on the cockpit panel, the crew elected to lower the gears manually without success. The crew completed two low passes in front of the control tower and it was confirmed that the left main gear seems to be down but not locked. After a 45-minute flight to burn fuel, the crew completed the landing. Upon touchdown, both main landing gear collapsed while the nose gear remained extended. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All four occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The rupture of two teeth of the sprocket of the control cylinder of the left main landing gear caused the cylinder to be locked and thus caused the mechanical system to extend the landing gear. This blockage prevented the complete extension and locking of the landing gear. This rupture and other damage to the two main landing gear actuators was probably the result of improper installation of the toothed gear and / or improper adjustment of the assembly.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-15-DO Skymaster in Nouméa: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1982 at 2104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49148/F-YEGA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nouméa - Nouméa
MSN:
27374
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Nouméa-La Tontouta consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. After takeoff, while climbing by night, the crew initiated a turn when the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Kokoreta at an altitude of 1,002 meters and located 10 km east of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
LdV Guy Celton, pilot,
MP Marcel Crusson, copilot,
MP Monroe Podlesnik, mechanic,
1st M Bernard Lefuraut, mechanic,
1st M Claude Wullaert, navigator,
1st M Jean Decoudu, electronics,
M Paul Gavard-Pivet, mechanic.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain consecutive to an error on part of the crew who mistakenly initiated a turn opposite to the published procedures for departure.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-7 near Touho: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39100
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nouméa – Touho
MSN:
16048/32796
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Touho Airfield in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed onto a hill and was destroyed. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL into the Nakéty Bay: 25 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1943 at 0900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-18675
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nouméa – Luganville
MSN:
6081
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft , call-sign "675-Baker-253", took off from Noumea-La Tontouta Airport, bound for Espiritu Santo. Radio contact was established at 0810LT but the aircraft failed to respond to a scheduled call at 0910LT. Two days later, damaged gear and some personal effects from the plane were found in Nakety Bay. A cold front had passed through the New Caledonia area in the early hours of the morning of the 23rd bringing a cloud layer at 2 to 4 thousand feet and a visibility of 4 to 6 miles, with 3 miles in heavier rain. The route was considered flyable on instruments and several aircraft flew it that day without the pilots reporting any difficulty with the weather conditions. The bodies of the 6 crew-members and 19 passengers (3 RNZAF and 16 USMC from VMTB-232) were never found.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19431123-0

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Nouméa: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1943 at 0055 LT
Operator:
Registration:
12406
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nouméa – Sydney
MSN:
9178
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Nouméa-La Tontouta by night bound for Sydney, with 23 US Navy pilots and officers on board. During the initial climb, one of the engine failed. The pilot tried to return to the airport but the aircraft stalled and crashed in the St Vincent Bay, few miles from the airport. All 23 occupants were killed, among them 16 US Navy pilots.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert Wesley Kirkpatrick,
Sgt John Henry Clark,
Robert Leon Parr.
Passengers:
Lt Col Paul Woret,
Lt Cdr Welden Lee Hamilton,
Lt Paul Edward Babel,
Lt Donald Randall Burke,
Lt William Robert Weiss,
Lt Sidney Quick,
Lt John Clifford Liverey,
Lt V. F. Flynn,
Robert Hayewood,
Charles Sterling Hall,
Ordien Fenmore Herr,
Bernard Gordon Robinson,
Jack Foster Young,
Carl Lee Cobb,
Alley Burton Conrad,
Cpl Lewis Ray Baughman,
Pfc Keith Horney,
W. T. Owen,
Col Joseph E. Stevenot,
Ellwin Albert Teal.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 into the Tontouta Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
05055
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4655
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Tontouta Bay. At least one crew member was killed.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in Nouméa: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
01981
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
4437
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night take off from Nouméa-La Tontouta Airport, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed on Mt Ousassio located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed. Following the accident, Mt Ousassio was renamed Mt Kimball to honor the captain and his crew.
Crew:
Maj Skip Kimball, pilot,
C/C Charlie Mottram 6.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.