Zone
Victoria

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 off Whitemark: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1935 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.86 Express
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sydney – Melbourne – Whitemark – Launceston – Hobart
MSN:
2312
YOM:
1935
Location:
Whitemark (Flinders Island)
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was approaching Whitemark Airport (Flinders Island) when it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, some 3 km offshore. The aircraft named Loina was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Norman Evans, pilot,
Maxwell Brown, copilot,
Edward Best, flight engineer.
Passengers:
G. S. Anderson,
G. Garlick.
Probable cause:
It was determined that VH-URT had gone into an uncontrollable spin, and three possible precipitating factors were: a loss of control after a power plant failure, the fouling of the tail surfaces while the trailing aerial was being reeled in or a structural failure. There was also evidence of a small fire in the rear of its cabin, which may have occurred before the crash, but this probably did not factor in the accident. And in view of two fatal accidents and other difficulties with the type, Australia would subsequently suspend the certificate of airworthiness of the De Havilland 86.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Melbourne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
367
YOM:
1927
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot William H. Zacher was taking part to a demonstration flight during an air race held by the Victorian Aero Club. After completing several manoeuvres in the vicinity of the airport with another aircraft, the pilot initiated a last turn to land when the collision occurred between both aircraft. The second one hit with its engine the tail of the Moth that dove into the ground and crashed some 1,5 mile from the Essendon Airport, near Maribyrnong. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot of the second aircraft, Theodore H.B . Allen, was able to make an emergency landing and was uninjured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 in Ballarat: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1934
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
244
YOM:
1926
Location:
Ballarat
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Roy Lovitt departed Melbourne-Essendon Airport on a solo training flight. The airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near Ballarat. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian IV in Melbourne

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
J. A. Kerr
Registration:
VH-UJZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
202
YOM:
1929
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, the airplane collided with power cables and crashed in Footscray. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Lasco Lascowl in Temora: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Lasco Lascowl
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UGF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne – Sydney
MSN:
3
YOM:
1927
Location:
Temora
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Melbourne to Sydney, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Temora, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. A. S. Geddes,
T. W. Rust.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Tallarock: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UPX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
598
YOM:
1928
Location:
Tallarock
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot J. H. Ekins was performing a training flight on behalf of the Civil Aviation Branch of the Department of Defence. He departed Melbourne-Essendon Airport bound for the north. While flying over Tallarock, in the region of Seymour, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed on the ground. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Melbourne: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1928
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AUME
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
193
YOM:
1925
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, while climbing, the pilot made a sharp turn at low height when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion some 400 metres from the airport. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Melbourne

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1927
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AUAF
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
243
YOM:
1926
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Essendon Airport in Melbourne. On approach, the aircraft went out of control for unknown reasons and crashed in a reservoir located east of the airfield. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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