Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 2 on Mt Tokugmera: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Oct 21, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
VP-PAD
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lenakel – Ipao
MSN:
5002
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
1853
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Lenakel Airstrip (Tanna Island) on a flight to Ipao, Futuna Island, Vanuatu. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and as the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted. Three days later, the burned wreckage was found in a gorge located on Mt Tokugmera (1,084 meters high) located in the center of Tanna Island. All eight occupants were killed, including the airline's Chief Pilot and Operations Manager, Paul H. Burton.
