Northern Territory | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Katherine Airfield, while on an ambulance flight to Darwin, the pilot encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed upside down, bursting into flames. While the nurse and the pilot were injured, the female patient was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The engine failed shortly after takeoff because the fuel was contaminated with water.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-8

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin - Dawrin

MSN:

414-1859

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 13th Squadron. After simulating an aerial attack, the pilot initiated a steep descent. Approaching the ground, he pulled up the control column but the airplane impacted the ground with its left wing. The left engine was torn off and the pilot regain control for few seconds before the aircraft eventually crashed into the sea, some 250 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Murray Charles Davies,
F/O Paul John Wallace Keely,
Sgt Maxwell Alexander Hipkins,
LAC James Curry.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment on part of the pilot who did not evaluate correctly the distance with the ground while simulating an attack.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth near Mount Brockman

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Charles N. K. Bell

Registration:

VH-UAR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Darwin - Oenpelli

MSN:

366

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Darwin to Oenpelli, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Mount Brockman, some 45 km south of Oenpelli. The pilot, sole on board, was on a delivery mission to Oenpelli with 'Christmas Supplies' on board. The aircraft was wrecked and the pilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a Miles M.3B Falcon Major in Hatches Creek

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Miles M.3B Falcon Major

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AAS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

209

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in an ambulance flight and was carrying one patient, one doctor and two pilots. Shortly after lift off, the aircraft went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Darwin

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 0545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UXI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Darwin – Adelaide

MSN:

1105

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft named 'Moresby' departed Darwin Airport at 0535LT bound for Adelaide with 10 soldiers and two crew on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force. Five minutes after takeoff, the right engine caught fire and the crew decided to return to Darwin. On final approach, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing when, in low visibility, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra in Katherine: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1939 at 0750 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

VH-ABI

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Darwin – Katherine – Adelaide

MSN:

1418

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was carrying a load of 700 pounds of mail from Darwin to Adelaide with an intermediate stop in Katherine. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered problem to gain height. It eventually stalled and crashed in the Katherine River located near the airport and came to rest in 6 feet of water. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. A. Jukes, pilot,
C. R. Clarke, pilot,
P. I. Donegan, copilot and flight engineer.
Passenger:
A. McDonald, Chief Inspector of Aerodromes in the Northern Territory.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the single runway of only 700 yards was marginal for the type of aircraft. Wheel marks on the runway indicated that there had been five attempts at becoming airborne before the boundary fence prompted one last desperate attempt at lifting off with too little airspeed.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar near Woodgreen Station

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1935

Type of aircraft:

General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar

Operator:

Australian Transcontinental Airways - ATA

Registration:

VH-UTZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Daly Waters – Tennant Creek – Alice Springs

MSN:

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was being used to ferry the passengers from VH-UXX 'Faith in Australia' which had suffered engine failure near Daly Waters when the Monospar had an engine failure itself. It was en route from Daly Waters to Alice Springs with two passengers on board, two crew members and a crocodile that was destined for the Melbourne Zoo. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a uninhabited area located near Woodgreen Station, Northern Australia. Upon landing, the aircraft slid for several yards and hit trees before coming to rest. The engineer walked some 30 miles to the overland telegraph line to find help. All passengers were eventually rescued and they survived as they ate the crocodile.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.