Region
Oceania

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Mount Garnett

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-USV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mount Garnett – Cairns
MSN:
2066
YOM:
1930
Location:
Mount Garnett
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon takeoff from Mount Garnett Airport. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Capella

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Rockhampton Aerial Services
Registration:
VH-UFW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rockhampton – Brisbane
MSN:
2
YOM:
1928
Location:
Capella
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the engine failed. The pilot recovered from a spin and completed an emergency landing near Capella, Queensland. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian III in Singleton

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
J. R. Palmer
Registration:
VH-UTU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
125
YOM:
1928
Location:
Singleton
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 single engine airplane crashed upon landing and came to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was injured, and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Mount Waverley: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UII
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
895
YOM:
1929
Location:
Melbourne
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Norman K. Field was performing a local training flight out from Essendon Airport. While cruising at low altitude over East Oakleigh, near Mount Waverley, in the suburb of Melbourne, the single engine aircraft hit telephone wires and a chimney then crashed onto a house, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed while nobody on the ground was hurt.

Crash of a Tugan LJW7 Gannet in Cordeaux Dam: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1936 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Tugan LJW7 Gannet
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UUZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Young - Sydney
MSN:
TA-52
YOM:
1935
Location:
Cordeaux Dam
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was flown to Young to pick up four passengers after the Codock airplane that were supposed to fly them from Leeton to Sydney was grounded at Young Airport due to technical problems. En route to Sydney, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds. While flying low in limited visibility, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Cordeaux Dam, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
y Edwin Jack Small.
Passengers:
A. V. Sinfield,
C. H. Turner,
F. J. Eagle,
Oliver King.
Probable cause:
The Air Accidents Investigation Committee released their findings in early March, and they determined that it was an error of judgement of the pilot in trying to traverse hilly country in low cloud and at night. The reports of engine problems seem to have been discounted.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A off Caloundra

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Rockhampton Aerial Services
Registration:
VH-UER
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
116
YOM:
1924
Location:
Caloundra
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was performing an ambulance flight out from Rockhampton. While flying along the shore with one patient, one doctor and a crew of two on board, the aircraft encountered unknown technical problems, forcing the pilot to ditch the aircraft offshore. All four occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was later destroyed by swell.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in Newcastle

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Avro 618 Ten
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UMH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
229
YOM:
1929
Location:
Williamtown (Newcastle)
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Williamstown Airport (Newcastle), an undercarriage failed. The aircraft named 'City of Grafton' went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All eight occupants evacuated safely and the three engine aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure upon landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 off Whitemark: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1935 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.86 Express
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sydney – Melbourne – Whitemark – Launceston – Hobart
MSN:
2312
YOM:
1935
Location:
Whitemark (Flinders Island)
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was approaching Whitemark Airport (Flinders Island) when it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, some 3 km offshore. The aircraft named Loina was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Norman Evans, pilot,
Maxwell Brown, copilot,
Edward Best, flight engineer.
Passengers:
G. S. Anderson,
G. Garlick.
Probable cause:
It was determined that VH-URT had gone into an uncontrollable spin, and three possible precipitating factors were: a loss of control after a power plant failure, the fouling of the tail surfaces while the trailing aerial was being reeled in or a structural failure. There was also evidence of a small fire in the rear of its cabin, which may have occurred before the crash, but this probably did not factor in the accident. And in view of two fatal accidents and other difficulties with the type, Australia would subsequently suspend the certificate of airworthiness of the De Havilland 86.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar near Woodgreen Station

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1935
Type of aircraft:
General Aircraft ST-12 Monospar
Operator:
Australian Transcontinental Airways - ATA
Registration:
VH-UTZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Daly Waters – Tennant Creek – Alice Springs
MSN:
42
YOM:
1935
Location:
Woodgreen Station
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being used to ferry the passengers from VH-UXX 'Faith in Australia' which had suffered engine failure near Daly Waters when the Monospar had an engine failure itself. It was en route from Daly Waters to Alice Springs with two passengers on board, two crew members and a crocodile that was destined for the Melbourne Zoo. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a uninhabited area located near Woodgreen Station, Northern Australia. Upon landing, the aircraft slid for several yards and hit trees before coming to rest. The engineer walked some 30 miles to the overland telegraph line to find help. All passengers were eventually rescued and they survived as they ate the crocodile.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

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

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
367
YOM:
1927
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot William H. Zacher was taking part to a demonstration flight during an air race held by the Victorian Aero Club. After completing several manoeuvres in the vicinity of the airport with another aircraft, the pilot initiated a last turn to land when the collision occurred between both aircraft. The second one hit with its engine the tail of the Moth that dove into the ground and crashed some 1,5 mile from the Essendon Airport, near Maribyrnong. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot of the second aircraft, Theodore H.B . Allen, was able to make an emergency landing and was uninjured.
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