Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide off Hinchinbrook Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1953 at 2155 LT
Registration:
VH-CFA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Iron Range – Cairns
MSN:
6713
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The Aerial ambulance was called out to Iron Range on Cape York to collect a patient, an aboriginal stockman who had been bitten by a snake. Capt Dick Brampton was one of half a dozen ANA pilots who were rostered to fly the Ambulance plane as needed for the Cairns Ambulance Transport Brigade. On board as well was an ambulance bearer. Capt Dick Brampton took off fairly late from Iron Range, and was confronted by very low thick cloud north of Cairns. The Rapide was only VFR nor IFR and Capt Brampton could not get a fix on Cairns. He was redirected further south. He apparently ran out of fuel north of Hinchinbrook Island and landed the aircraft on the water near Brooke Island. Nearly two hours late on estimated ETA at Townsville that evening, a radio call was heard at 9.48pm “Lost, low fuel”. At 9.55pm another call saying the aircraft was being ditched. Within an hour of the last message, a RAAF Lincoln from Townsville and an ANA DC-3 from Cairns were searching an area near Hinchinbrook Island, 20 miles north of Ingham. The ambulance bearer was uninjured and got out okay, along with Capt Brampton who had some leg injuries. The stockman went down with the plane which did not float for long. Apparently Capt Dick Brampton survived for some time in the water, but was unable to stay afloat due to his injuries. He was not wearing a life jacket. The ambulance bearer was picked up six hours later by a passing coastal freighter. Neither Capt Brampton's body nor any parts of the plane were ever found.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in the Glendun Mountains: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
NF861
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Stretton – Eglinton
MSN:
6732
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
In flight, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Glendun Mountain Range, Antrim. While the pilot Lt A. G. Cronin was injured, the radio operator H. Charlesworth was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Pentreuchaf

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIYP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6456
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Pentreuchaf and came to rest in flames. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Amman

Date & Time: May 1, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
TJ-ABJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6749
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the twin engine aircraft swung and veered off runway, collided with a electric standard and was destroyed.

Ground accident of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Koksijde AFB

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
D-1
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Koksijde - Koksijde
MSN:
6881
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing, the twin engine went out of control, ground looped and came to rest on its nose. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Siem Reap

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
F-BGPM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6476
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During start up, the left engine caught fire. All five occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire on start up.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in San Justo

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
LV-FEP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6550
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in San Justo, in the suburb of Buenos Aires. The aircraft crash landed and was written off while both occupants were unhurt. It was reported that the crew was completing an illegal flight (smuggling operation). The twin engine aircraft was owned by J. J. Ricardo Alvarez.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Wallington: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIZI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
6861
YOM:
1946
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in flames against the wall of a church located in the center of the city of Wallington. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the sole occupant was killed. The aircraft was piloted and owned by Rodney Reuben Carne.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Brussels

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
D-3
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels - Brussels
MSN:
6739
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight when the aircraft crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and use for spares.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in London

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1952
Registration:
G-ALBB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London - London
MSN:
6829
YOM:
1948
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was approaching to land at London Airport on runway 23L after a five-minute local pleasure flight. It was coming in after a Stratocruiser and had reached a point between the beginning of the runway approach lighting and the Bath Road when it encountered turbulent air at a height of 300 feet. The pilot lost control and the aircraft crashed just inside the aerodrome and 475 yards from the threshold of the runway. On impact with the ground the nose of the aircraft disintegrated and the pilot was thrown out and severely injured. Five of the eight passengers received injuries of a lesser degree.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach caused by the wake turbulences created by a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser that just landed on the same runway.
Final Report: