Australia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

All seven occupants (five passengers and both crew members) were on board and ready for departure on a flight to Brisbane. When the pilot started the engines, one of them exploded and the fire quickly spread to the rest of the structure. All seven occupants were able to evacuate and four were injured, among them the captain. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Engine fire at start up.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Cairns

Date & Time: May 7, 1937

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UZG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cairns – Cooktown

MSN:

6027

YOM:

1933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Cairns Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed 3 km from the airport. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in Brisbane: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1937 at 0530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Stinson Model A

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UGG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Brisbane – Townsville

MSN:

9122

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, while climbing at night and in foggy conditions, the three engine aircraft collided with trees, overturned and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed. The airplane was on its way to Townsville on an early morning newspapers flight.
Crew:
T. S. Cameron, pilot.
Passenger:
E. Shang.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in McPherson Range: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1937 at 1350 LT

Type of aircraft:

Stinson Model A

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UHH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Brisbane – Lismore – Sydney

MSN:

9126

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft named 'City of Brisbane' was performing a regular schedule flight from Brisbane to Sydney with an intermediate stop in Lismore. Some 40 minutes after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, while cruising in marginal weather conditions over the McPherson Range, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Both crewmen and two passengers were killed while three passengers survived. They walked away to find help but one of them (James Westray) died when he fall down a ravine. Eventually, on March 1st, 1937, the two last survivors (John Proud and Joseph Binstead) met Bernard O'Reilly, a bushman, and were rescued.
Crew:
Rex Boyden, pilot, †
Beverley Shepherd, copilot. †
Passengers:
R. Graham, †
W. Fountain, †
James Westray, †
John Proud,
Joseph Binstead.

Probable cause:

Prior to the accident, VH-UHH was being flown at a low altitude and under the cloud level, its pilot apparently trying to maintain visual contact with the ground, and the crash occurred when it encountered winds of up to 60 knots, which created a strong down drafts that exceeded its ability to climb.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off Cairns: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1937 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UPQ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cooktown – Cairns

MSN:

2085

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over the Trinity Bay, off Cairns, the single engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 16 km off Cairns. The pilot and a young boy aged 13 were injured while a girl aged 15 was killed. It appears that the aircraft was descending to the sea at a normal rate when it impacted the water surface and crashed.

Probable cause:

No mechanical failure. Investigation concluded that the pilot had fallen asleep and descended gradually into the sea.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Melbourne

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1936

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AUL

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Melbourne - Melbourne

MSN:

246

YOM:

1926

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Essendon Airport, the single engine aircraft clipped a tree and crashed 3 miles east of the airport, near a golf course. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-25 Monospar Jubilee in Mount Sir Samuel

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1936 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

General Aircraft ST-25 Monospar

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UVJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Agnew – Wiluna

MSN:

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Ten minutes after takeoff from Agnew, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft contacted trees and crash landed. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants evacuated safely, among them the pilot Charles Snook.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

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

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1936

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-31

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Point Cook - Point Cook

Location:

Point Cook (Melbourne)

Victoria

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot (Sgt Sommerville) was performing a local training flight at RAAF Point Cook. On final approach, his Moth collided with a RAAF Avro 643 Cadet registered A6-9. Both aircraft crashed and while Sgt Sommerville was killed, the second pilot was injured. Both aircraft wreckage are seen on the photo (A6-9 in the foreground and A7-31 in the background).

Probable cause:

According to RAAF, the Avro Cadet's pilot did not follow approach procedures and safe separation distance.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in Sydney

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1936

Type of aircraft:

Avro 618 Ten

Operator:

Transcontinental Airways

Registration:

VH-UMG

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Sydney - Sydney

MSN:

230

YOM:

1929

Location:

Sydney-Kingsford Smith

New South Wales

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft was returning to Sydney-Mascot following a sightseeing flight over the city of Sydney. On final approach, the aircraft was caught by strong winds and hit the ground short of runway. All eight occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Caught by strong winds on final approach.