Region
Oceania

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Elwood: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-11
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
977
YOM:
1936
Location:
Melbourne
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight following recent modification on the communication systems. While returning to his base at Laverton, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog and reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft impacted the water surface and crashed into the Port Phillip Bay off Elwood, south of Melbourne. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald Davies,
Cpl Gordon Peake,
AC1 John Quinn.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in foggy conditions.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Riverston: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-32
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
1027
YOM:
1937
Location:
Riverston
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Avro Anson A4-32 of 6 Squadron RAAF left Richmond airfield at 1240LT on a flight that was expected to last less than 3 hours. This was part of an Air Navigation course they were being trained in. The particular exercise for this flight was a wind finding direction course over the sea. The weather was clear and fine and weather conditions in no way contributed to the crash which ultimately happened. After leaving Richmond Airfield the Avro Anson was flown out to sea in the vicinity of Smith Head, Sydney. The crew maintained constant radio communication with the airfield and the flight proceeded without incident until approximately 1530LT. At 1527LT, a radio message was received from the aircraft to the effect that the aerial was being reeled in preparatory to landing. At that time the aircraft was within a few miles of the airfield and within a few minutes of landing. This was the last message received from the aircraft. At 1530LT Avro Anson A4-32 crashed into the ground. There were several eye witnesses. It would appear the aircraft was flying in normal level flight at about 1,000 feet when eye witnesses heard some spluttering from the engines along with the noises of backfiring and puffs of smoke were seen coming from the aircraft. The nose of the Avro Anson dropped to an angle of 30 degrees and it started to lose height. Eye witnesses then indicated they could hardly hear the noise of the engines but they then made a sudden roaring noise and the nose pulled up again. But then it went into a steeper dive and crashed directly into the ground with its engines roaring. All four crew who were performing a training flight were killed.
Crew:
Maxwell Leonard Hickson, pilot and navigator,
Lloyd George Harness, pilot,
Raymond Duncan Knight, wireless operator,
Harrie Clarke, fitter armourer.

Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nsw164.htm

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra in Katherine: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1939 at 0750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ABI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Darwin – Katherine – Adelaide
MSN:
1418
YOM:
1938
Location:
Katherine
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was carrying a load of 700 pounds of mail from Darwin to Adelaide with an intermediate stop in Katherine. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered problem to gain height. It eventually stalled and crashed in the Katherine River located near the airport and came to rest in 6 feet of water. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. A. Jukes, pilot,
C. R. Clarke, pilot,
P. I. Donegan, copilot and flight engineer.
Passenger:
A. McDonald, Chief Inspector of Aerodromes in the Northern Territory.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the single runway of only 700 yards was marginal for the type of aircraft. Wheel marks on the runway indicated that there had been five attempts at becoming airborne before the boundary fence prompted one last desperate attempt at lifting off with too little airspeed.

Crash of a Simmonds Spartan Cirrus III in Balranald

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Simmonds Spartan
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UIT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
03
YOM:
1929
Location:
Balranald
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed shortly after take off from Balranald. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Point Cook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-68
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
1361
YOM:
1929
Location:
Point Cook (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a local training at Point Cook Airport. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. One of the pilot later died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O P. McDonough, instructor pilot, †
J. Costello, student pilot.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-210 in Mont Dandenong: 18 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1938 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UYC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Adelaide – Melbourne
MSN:
1566
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mont Dandenong
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While descending to Melbourne, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to locate the airport of Essendon. The pilot continued the descent and the aircraft named 'Kyeema' went through a thick layer of cloud when it impacted trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located in Mont Dandenong, some 40 km east of Essendon Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 18 occupants were killed.
Crew:
A. C. Webb, pilot,
A. J. Steen, copilot,
Phillip Pring, pilot, acting as radio operator,
Elva Jones, stewardess,
Probable cause:
The following deficiencies were identified as contributing to the accident:
1) The aircraft’s navigational log was either not kept or had not been properly utilized during the latter part of the flight, as required by the carrier;
2) The company’s procedure for descent through an overcast into this airport was not adopted, and
3) A request for a bearing from the aircraft was not received by the radio operator at the airport nor logged at any other operating station. Also noted in the investigative report was the lack in Australia of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) beacon network, and indeed, the crash of VH-UYC would prove pivotal in the development of the nation’s airway system.

Crash of a Simmonds Spartan Gipsy II in Mundaring Weir

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Simmonds Spartan
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Perth – Adelaide
MSN:
63
YOM:
1932
Location:
Mundaring Weir
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While overflying a hilly and wooded area, the pilot encountered downdraft and was unable to maintain control of the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to severe downdraft.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Windsor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
974
YOM:
1936
Location:
Windsor
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
82
Captain / Total hours on type:
14.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RAAF Richmond at 1030LT. While cruising at an altitude estimated between 15,000 and 16,000 feet, he started a series of maneuvers when he lost control of the aircraft that stalled and went into a spin. The aircraft then lost a wing and an engine before crashing in a field located near Windsor, some 5 km east of Richmond AFB. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
John Fletcher, pilot.
Probable cause:
According to the RAAF Board, the pilot was inexperienced with a total of 82 flying hours and only 14 hours on Avro Anson. Aged 19, he lead the aircraft in a situation that he was unable to control.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in King Island-Currie

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-15
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1010
YOM:
1937
Location:
King Island-Currie
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine, bursting into flames. All four occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Innisfail: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1938 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UXK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Townsville – Innisfail – Cairns
MSN:
6053
YOM:
1933
Location:
Innisfail
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Aircraft flight hours:
4680
Circumstances:
On final approach to Innisfail Airport, the pilot saw a tractor on the runway and initiated a go around procedure. Doing so, the airplane names 'Cairns' stalled and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. The pilot and four passengers were killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was totally wrecked.
Crew:
B. H. Goodson, pilot.
Probable cause:
Investigation stated the aircraft was correctly loaded, 180lb below Max All Up Weight, had flown 4,680 hours of which 3,620 hrs were in Australia over previous 23 months. Pilot Goodson had been with the airline only 3 days and had gained his Dragon endorsement flying a service to Townsville return not fully loaded and without landings en route. Goodson had 2,000 hours experience and had been an instructor with Rockhampton Aero Club, later CFI of Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, Sydney but had never flown a Dragon. He allowed the aircraft to stall during a discontinued approach because of a tractor on the runway.
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