Zone
Victoria

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Trislander Mk.III-2 near Tumut: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Trislander
Operator:
Eagle Airways - Australia
Registration:
VH-EGU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bankstown - Melbourne
MSN:
1030
YOM:
1976
Location:
Tumut
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying over the Snowy Mountains on a cargo flight from Bankstown to Melbourne, the pilot reported icing conditions. Shortly later, the three engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. It was later reported that a cold front was coming across the area with low temperatures and icing conditions.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an excessive accumulation of ice on airframe as well as on carburetors.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Warrnambool

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1965 at 0817 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ANJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Warrnambool – Melbourne
MSN:
9105
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
WX001
Location:
Warrnambool
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6181
Captain / Total hours on type:
1738.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1770
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1561
Circumstances:
Flight No. 1 was a scheduled domestic flight from Hamilton to Melbourne via Warrnambool, Victoria, and the aircraft landed at Warrnambool at 2159 hours GMT after an uneventful flight. After a stay on the ground of 17 minutes, during which time there were load changes, the aircraft taxied for take-off on runway 31. The pre-take-off checks did not indicate any abnormality and the aircraft proceeded to take off. After becoming airborne, but prior to undercarriage retraction, a loss of engine power occurred and the pilot- in-command deduced that the port engine had failed. He feathered the port engine and then became aware that the starboard engine was delivering only partial power, which was insufficient to sustain the aircraft in flight. A suitable area was selected immediately and a landing with wheels and flaps retracted was made in grassy paddocks on level terrain, but the aircraft passed through three fences before coming to rest. All occupants survived while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was that the pilot-in-command, on becoming aware of a loss of engine power, took action to feather the propeller after adopting procedures which failed to ensure correct identification of the defective engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Launceston

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
VH-FNH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne – Launceston – Hobart
MSN:
10180
YOM:
1961
Location:
Launceston
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7500
Aircraft flight cycles:
8011
Circumstances:
To avoid turbulence over the mountain area near Launceston, the cruising level was maintained prior to entry into the airport circuit pattern. Just prior to turning for finals, trouble was experienced in the pitch-lock mechanism of the no. 1 prop. The prop was feathered and the approach was continued with full flaps, but without immediately increasing power on the remaining engine. The high rate of descent was not arrested during the turn, resulting in a slightly low altitude. Power was added and speed reduced to control the descent rate, but the crew were unable to maintain runway heading. An overshoot was attempted, but the speed had dropped below minimum control speed. The left wing dropped as full power was applied to the no. 2 engine. The wing struck the ground and the aircraft crashed, coming to rest 740 feet abeam the runway threshold. Fuel tanks ruptured and caused a fire, which was quickly extinguished. All 23 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Martin 404 in Melbourne

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Registration:
N496A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tampa – Melbourne
MSN:
14244
YOM:
1952
Location:
Melbourne
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Melbourne Airport, the aircraft was too low, causing an undercarriage to struck a gravel pile located short of runway threshold. The crew continued the approach and at touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All ten occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Hobart: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1956 at 0340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BZA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Melbourne – Hobart
MSN:
4651
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Melbourne to Hobart, carrying a load of refrigeration equipment. While descending to Hobart, the crew passed through the clouds at 2,000 feet then completed a turn over the Frederick Henry Bay when the aircraft crashed into the bay about 13 km from the runway 30 threshold. The captain Peter Kemp was rescued while the copilot Alan Jay was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot relied on inadequate external visual reference for determining the altitude and paid insufficient attention to the instruments. The irregular approach procedure carried out by the pilot in command deprived him of the opportunity to monitor the safe approach to the aerodrome through the correlation of time, height and position. This probably contributed to the accident.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Melbourne

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BKZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
Location:
Melbourne-Moorabbin
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine aircraft suffered an engine failure resulting in its crossing the Centre Dandenong Road beneath the 20 feet high telephone wires which were strung along each side of the road before striking an earth embankment and two fences, tearing off the port wing. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at rotation.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Sydney

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AND
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne – Sydney
MSN:
42950
YOM:
1946
Location:
Sydney
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop and overran. The airplane hit a drain, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was heavily damaged. It was later considered as damaged beyond economical repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK off Hobart: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1951 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TAT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
13083
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Hobart Airport, while in initial climb, the crew started a turn at low height when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Barilla Bay, less than 3 km from the airfield. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of lateral control during a turn at low altitude soon after takeoff was probably caused by the presence of ice on the aircraft surface.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-232 in Mangalore

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Launceston - Melbourne
MSN:
2002
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mangalore
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots and one stewardess) was positioning from Launceston to Melbourne. On approach to Essendon, poor weather conditions forced ATC to close the airport to all trafic and VH-UZJ was diverted to Mangalore Airport. On approach, the aircraft was too low, crashed in a field and broke in two. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the pilot who continued the approach at an unsafe altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C near Melbourne: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1947 at 0430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Burke Air Transport
Registration:
NC79024
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Newark – Baltimore – Augusta – Miami – San Juan
MSN:
9887
YOM:
1943
Location:
Melbourne
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
At 0134LT, the flight departed Augusta bound for Miami. The last communication from the crew was at 0303LT, the morning of July 13, at which time they reported to the Jacksonville Airway radio that they were at 2,000 feet. One and one-half hours later, the aircraft was observed approximately 2 1/2 miles west of Melbourne, Florida, flying southeast at an altitude of from 300 to 500 feet. The engines were heard to sputter and misfire as the aircraft proceeded ahead on a straight course. Altitude was gradually lost, the landing lights were turned on, and seconds later the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 4 miles southwest of Melbourne. Both pilots and twelve passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilots flying for long periods of time without adequate rest resulting in their inability to remain fully awake and alert.
The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Proper records for the maintenance and the operation of the aircraft were not maintained from the date of certification,
- The carburetor on the left engine, and 10 spark plugs from both engines were found defective,
- The aircraft departed from Newark for subject flight with an overload of 2,047 pounds,
- The pilot and the co-pilot had less than 8 hours rest on the ground in a period of 37 hours and 45 minutes, 23 of which were spent in the air,
- No contact was made by the flight with any airway radio station to report an emergency,
- No attempt was made by the crew to land at the Melbourne-Eau Gallie airport, which was equipped for night landing, and located 3 miles east of the aircraft's flight path, and 6 miles north of the crash,
- The safety belts for the flight crew were not fastened nor did the flight crew warn the passengers to fasten theirs prior to the crash.
Final Report:
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