Australia

Upon landing at Cresswell Downs Airstrip, the right wheel separated from its axle and rolled away. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair. Among the passengers were two additional pilots on a positioning flight.

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.

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.

The pilot was performing a spraying mission in Aberfoyle when flying at low height, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed. The pilot was killed.

The crew was completing a local training flight at Nowra Airport. On final approach, the airplane crashed short of runway threshold and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

The pilot, sole on board, was engaged in a crop spraying mission in Tilbuster, north of Armidale, New South Wales. He had been spreading superphosphate in a paddock owned by Mr. D. Walker when the airplane went out of control and into a barrel roll. Then the left wing detached and the airplane dove into the ground. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, Ronald Leslie Gilmour, was killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Woolbrook while performing a local spraying mission. The pilot, sole on board, was slightly injured.

The crew was completing a local training flight at Albion Park Airport, south of Sydney. En route, the crew decided to shut the right engine down but was unable to feather its propeller. The airplane lost height and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft was engaged on a scheduled transport service from Sydney to Canberra. It carried a crew of four and eleven passengers. According to the approved flight plan, the pilot proposed to proceed to Canberra via the 222 track to Marulan, the first reporting point. At the time of departure this was changed, because of inbound traffic, to the 244 diversion, which avoids Botany Bay. At 1915:43 the Approach Controller instructed the flight to "continue runway heading to 3 000 ft before turning left and to pass over the field at 5 000 ft or above. The flight was then cleared for take-off from runway 07. At 1921:50 the Approach Controller asked the aircraft to report its altitude. It was at 6 000 ft. Shortly thereafter (at 1922:05) the controller communicated as follows:" . . . now if you haven't passed over the field you can proceed via the 217 from Padstow. The 222 is available, but I suggest the 217 due to the storm to the south of the field, report setting course from Padstow 217." The flight acknowledged at 1922:20 hours. None of the messages that followed from the Approach Controller were answered. Between 1925 and 1926 hours the aircraft plunged into Botany Bay, killing all aboard.

The aircraft and crew had been travelling to a number of locations around Australia on a task for NASA, and were in WA calibrating the Muchea Tracking Station in support of a Project Mercury space launch. They had intended to leave for home base, RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia, earlier in the day, however the calibration had been delayed due to technical difficulties at Muchea which, being a mobile tracking station, was not as electronically stable as the fixed installations. A65-106 finally departed Pearce off Runway 18 after dusk and in passing rain showers. During initial climb, the airplane crashed few km from the airfield. All four crew members were killed while all three passengers were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
F/O W. J. Bowden, pilot,
F/Sgt P. F. Davis, copilot,
F/O R. G. White, navigator,
F/Lt A. J. Cook, signaller.
Passengers:
LAC R. A. Leiper,
LAC W. Miles,
Mr. N. A. McBain.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/