Zone
Central

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Tapini

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1968
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
A4-147
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
147
YOM:
1964
Location:
Tapini
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Tapini Airstrip on a supply mission. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were injured.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Embessa

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Goilala Air Service
Registration:
VH-BDD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tapini – Embessa
Location:
Embessa
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Embessa, the aircrasft suffered engine problems. The crew elected to make an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Tapini

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Tapini
MSN:
4040
YOM:
1933
Location:
Tapini
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was performing a flight from Port Moresby with three passengers, one pilot and two sacks of rice. Upon landing, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft veered off runway and eventually collided with an embankment. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was not repaired and considered as damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the pilot was normally on DC-3's and that his experience on DH.83 Fox Moth was negligible. Apparently, the aircraft encountered katabatic winds on landing.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I in Tapini: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 152 Beaufort
Operator:
Registration:
A9-52
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Tapini
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was on an operation to Lae Airfield when the airplane crashed in hilly terrain near Tapini. The wreckage was found about 120 km north of Port Moresby. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L Charles Walter Lyndsay, pilot,
F/O Joseph Anderson Wormald, observer,
Sgt Douglas Wallace Desmond, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Charles Forbes Patterson, air gunner.
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