Region
Oceania

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Schofields

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AOH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Schofields - Schofields
MSN:
13603
YOM:
1944
Location:
Schofields
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing touch and goes at Schofields Airport. On final approach, the airplane failed to land, overshot and eventually crashed in a wooded area past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed while both pilots were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Gimbat Station

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
Q-12
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sydney – Jakarta
MSN:
13210
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gimbat Station
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the twin engine aircraft was hot by lightning. The electric systems failed and radio and navigation failed. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a uninhabited area and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Hit by lightning.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Schofields

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1409
YOM:
1938
Location:
Schofields
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the left main gear collapsed after hitting a log. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Darwin

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-115
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Darwin - Darwin
MSN:
16716/33464
YOM:
1945
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a training flight in Darwin and flying along the coast, the right engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft about 500 yards off the Mindil Beach. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/Lt A. A. Lange,
W/O R. McGrath,
LAC B. R. Hanson,
LAC R. S. Bowley,
LAC J. J. Harvey.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Broome

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ABW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1131
YOM:
1937
Location:
Broome
Western Australia
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 from Broome Airfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a mangrove located in Roebuck Creek, near the airport. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Lockheed 10B Electra in Virginia

Date & Time: May 16, 1946 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1109
YOM:
1937
Location:
Adelaide-Parafield
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Adelaide-Parafield Airport, the crew lost visual contact with the ground due to heavy rain falls. The twin engine aircraft christened 'Ansalanta' hit the ground and came to rest upside down in a field located in Virginia, some 10 km north of Parafield Airport. All 12 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in Sydney

Date & Time: May 2, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGMC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Sydney
MSN:
1183
YOM:
1944
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:
On touchdown, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure.

Crash of a Percival D.3 Gull Six in Camooweal: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Percival D.3 Gull Six
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Alice Springs - Camooweal
MSN:
D.60
Location:
Camooweal
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the pilot was flying over the city of Camooweal at a very low height, causing the aircraft to hit electrical wires. A wing was cut and the aircraft crashed in the city. No one on the ground was injured but the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, Kyle B. Sellick, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Hobart: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1946 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AET
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
6013
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Aircraft flight hours:
7477
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Hobart-Cambridge Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Derwent estuary, near the Seven Mile Beach. The aircraft was destroyed and no survivor was found among the 25 occupants.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the captain inadvertently switched on the autopilot system in lieu of the fuel cross feed system. A forward movement on the control column was then noted and the aircraft plunged into the sea. At the time of the accident, the capacities and the performances of the captain were considered as reduced because he suffered of diabetes and was under influence of insulin, which could be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Lockhart River: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1946 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
A71-4
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Townsville – Cooktown – Iron Range
MSN:
182
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lockhart River
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Departed Cairns for Iron Range Camp, stopped at Cooktown for fuel then encountered severe weather conditions near Iron Range. Radio contact was lost and the aircraft reported missing. An aerial search was mounted over the next four days by RAAF and civilian search planes. Five days later, a Catalina located the wreckage near the old Claudie bush strip 10 miles south of Iron Range. A RAAF Court of Enquiry determined that the aircraft crashed after it struck a tree at 1445LT when trying to land at Claudie strip in bad weather. The aircraft was destroyed and all three on board were killed. Access to crash site was impossible because of flood waters.
Crew:
F/O Colin William Law,
F/Sgt John Brian Crawford,
F/Sgt George Morris Geisel.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/
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