Australia

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Schedule:

Laverton – Ceduna – Pearce

MSN:

414-6073

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Ceduna, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed. Brand new, the airplane was on a delivery flight to Pearce and totalized 3,2 flying hours.
Crew:
F/Lt D. B. Bradley,
S/L G. Laming,
Sgt R. Dow,
Sgt R. W. Westcott,
Sgt F. A. Walker,
Cpl W. C. Lindsay.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2 in Broome

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UVN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Schedule:

Broome – Perth

MSN:

6106

YOM:

1936

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Broome Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a field located 5 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941 at 0545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-69

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin – Ambon

MSN:

414-1922

YOM:

1940

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The twin engine airplane departed Darwin Airport at 0530LT on a flight to Ambon, Indonesia. Some 15 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 400 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
W/Cdr Joshua Roger Gray McDonald, pilot,
F/O Ralph Henry Pope,
Sgt Wallace Roy Foreman,
Sgt Walter John Nagel.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to a crew error when the pilot decided to reduce the speed to 95 knots with flaps down to let two other aircrafts create a formation. This caused the aircraft to stall and spin into the sea.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Katherine: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Northern Territory Medical Services

Registration:

VH-UZS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Eastern Air Transport (Australia)

Schedule:

Katherine – Darwin

MSN:

DHA5

YOM:

1937

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Shortly after takeoff from Katherine Airfield, while on an ambulance flight to Darwin, the pilot encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft hit tree tops and crashed upside down, bursting into flames. While the nurse and the pilot were injured, the female patient was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The engine failed shortly after takeoff because the fuel was contaminated with water.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth off Ettalong Beach

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UAH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Sydney - Ettalong Beach

MSN:

245

YOM:

1926

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Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Sydney-Mascot Airport on a charter service to Ettalong Beach. On approach, it went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred metres offshore. Both occupants were rescued and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. This was the fifth accident for this airplane since 1926. It was not repaired.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Coen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UQL

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Horn Island - Coen - Cairns

MSN:

2088

YOM:

1932

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The single engine airplane departed Horn Island on a schedule service to Cairns with an intermediate stop at Coen Airport (Queensland) to refuel. On approach to Coen, the left wing failed and the airplane crashed in an open field. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Frank Cohen, pilot.
Passengers:
Charles Hardy,
T. R. Miller.

Probable cause:

The left wing broke off on approach, maybe due to a structural failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-8

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Darwin - Dawrin

MSN:

414-1859

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 13th Squadron. After simulating an aerial attack, the pilot initiated a steep descent. Approaching the ground, he pulled up the control column but the airplane impacted the ground with its left wing. The left engine was torn off and the pilot regain control for few seconds before the aircraft eventually crashed into the sea, some 250 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Murray Charles Davies,
F/O Paul John Wallace Keely,
Sgt Maxwell Alexander Hipkins,
LAC James Curry.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment on part of the pilot who did not evaluate correctly the distance with the ground while simulating an attack.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Brisbane

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-85

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Brisbane - Brisbane

MSN:

540

YOM:

1928

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Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport. Both pilots were uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Cootamundra: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A33-2

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site: