Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Camden

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12285
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Performing a flight on behalf of the Australian Civil Aviation Authority, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Camden and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Jervis Bay

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-AJP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jervis Bay – Wollongong
MSN:
DG750
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. Both crew members who were performing a cargo flight to Wollongong were injured. The aircraft was reduced to spares.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the Tuggerah Lake

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AYE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Toowoomba, the aircraft suffered an engine failure while approaching Central Coast, NSW. The pilot attempted an emergency landing into the Teggurah Lake. The aircraft came to rest in shallow water and was considered as damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt. The aircraft was owned by T. M. S. Hall.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Pozieres

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BKL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane – Glen Innes – Armidale
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed at Zanatta's property located near Pozieres, in the Southern Downs Region, Queensland. The plane was en route from Eagle Farm Airport (Brisbane) to Armidale Airport via Glen Innes when one engine caught fire in flight, filling the cockpit with smoke. The airplane crashed on its belly and suffered considerable damage although the pilot and three passengers were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK in Schofields

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
A65-116
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16705/33453
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Bungulla: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
VH-SMH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
13157
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Camden, carrying newspapers for the Sydney Morning Herald. While cruising at an altitude of 500 feet, the crew encountered low clouds when the aircraft hit a hill and crashed near Bungulla. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to adopt the minimum terrain clearance for flight under Instrument Flight Rules. A contributory factor was that the pilot was cruising at an altitude lower than 500 feet prior to entering clouds.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 near York: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1950 at 2212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ANA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Perth – Adelaide – Melbourne
MSN:
42910
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Amana' left Perth Airport runway 29 at 2150LT on a regular schedule service to Melbourne via Adelaide. Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine number four that must be shut down. Later, few other problems occurred on the three remaining engines, and in such situation, the captain decided to return to Perth for a safe landing. During the last turn completed by night and at low height, the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located 19 km northwest of York. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. A passenger was seriously injured while 28 other occupants were killed. Six days later, the only survivor died from his terrible injuries.
Probable cause:
The Inquiry found that the aircraft suffered a total loss of engine power on at least one occasion, followed by rapid loss of height until it struck the ground. However, the evidence did not allow the court to determine the cause of the total loss of engine power. Consequently, the court was unable to determine the cause of the accident.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Georgetown: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1950 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-105
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rathmines – Townsville – Darwin
MSN:
1956
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On the leg from Townsville to Darwin, while cruising 30 km from Georgetown, the flight engineer informed the pilot about a fuel leak on the left engine. The captain decided to divert to Georgetown Airport for an emergency landing but on final, the seaplane was unstable, banking left and right. The pilot increased power on the right engine and attempted a go around when the aircraft banked right, stalled, overturned and crashed in flames in a field located about 5 km from the airport. Five crew members were killed instantly while two others were seriously injured. One of the survivors died from his injuries few hours later.
Crew:
F/Lt David Northey, pilot, †
John Gilbert Humprey Alexander, pilot, †
Leo Maurice Sattler, pilot, †
Alexander John Brown, navigator, †
Frank Slater, flight engineer,
Maurice Henry Wood, flight engineer, †
William Bedford, wireless operator. †
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine caused by a fuel leak.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln 30A near Amberley AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A73-44
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Amberley - Amberley
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Amberley AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 8 miles south of Rosewood. All four crew members were killed. Apparently, the loss of control occurred when a parachute release box apparently jammed the control column.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414-08 Hudson IVA in Camden: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1950 at 0057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-SMK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Camden – Dubbo
MSN:
414-6043
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 150 feet, the aircraft nosed down first, dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Richard Cruicksbanks, pilot,
Robert Bruce Purvis, copilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was stated that the total weight of the aircraft was above MTOW by 150 to 300 kilos at the time of the accident and that the right engine was not running at impact. These two facts were not considered as contributory factors. Despite the fact that the pilot was able to fly this kind of aircraft, he was not in possession of a valid license at the time of the accident.