Australia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Richmond, the pilot failed to realize that he was flying too low. A gear impacted a fence and the aircraft overturned and crashed upside down, bursting into flames. While the P/O Charles M. Blamey was killed, the passenger Able Seaman John Plumb was injured.

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

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1932 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UPM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Sydney – Lismore – Brisbane

MSN:

2052

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at a height of 100 feet over the Burringbar Mountain Range, the pilot encountered strong winds and turbulences. He initiated a turn to the right when the left wing and the rudder detached. Out of control, the aircraft crashed and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Ralph Virtue, pilot.
Passengers:
Les Holden,
Dr. George R. Hamilton.

Probable cause:

Strong drafts exceeded the design of the left wing and the rudder that failed in flight.

Crash of a Jones Wonga Monoplane in Quakers Hill: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Jones Wonga Monoplane

Operator:

N. P. Bolton

Registration:

VH-ULZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Quakers Hill - Quakers Hill

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

100

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a test flight on this first prototype that was built in 1929 and totalized already 100 flying hours. While flying at low altitude in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field, killing both occupants.

Probable cause:

AAIC reported its conclusion that the accident resulted from low flying and bad weather. Subsequently T. D. J. Leech, lecturer in civil engineering, University of Sydney, built a scale model of the Quaker's Hill area and tested it in the G. A. Taylor memorial wind tunnel. From these tests, he concluded that the aircraft probably encountered severe turbulence when the loss of control occurred.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian IV in Melbourne

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

J. A. Kerr

Registration:

VH-UJZ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Melbourne - Melbourne

MSN:

202

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, the airplane collided with power cables and crashed in Footscray. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Perth

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1931

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UFK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Perth - Perth

MSN:

279

YOM:

1926

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at Perth-Maylands Airport. For unknown reasons, he missed the approach and the single engine aircraft hit violently the ground upon landing. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Lasco Lascowl in Temora: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Lasco Lascowl

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UGF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Melbourne – Sydney

MSN:

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Melbourne to Sydney, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Temora, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. A. S. Geddes,
T. W. Rust.

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

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1931

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UPX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Melbourne - Melbourne

MSN:

598

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot J. H. Ekins was performing a training flight on behalf of the Civil Aviation Branch of the Department of Defence. He departed Melbourne-Essendon Airport bound for the north. While flying over Tallarock, in the region of Seymour, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed on the ground. The pilot was killed.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian III in Millthorpe

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

G. V. Forknall

Registration:

VH-UJY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sydney - Sydney

MSN:

155

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, departed Sydney-Mascot Airport on a local solo flight. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances, injuring the pilot.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in the Snowy Mountains: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1931 at 1315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 618 Ten

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UMF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Sydney – Melbourne

MSN:

241

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed Sydney at 0810LT bound for Melbourne. En route, the crew encountered strong unfavorable winds and the weather conditions worsened with poor visibility. The aircraft named 'Southern Cloud' hit the slope of a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains, in the Kosciuszko National Park, west of Jindabyne. SAR were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants were found, so all operations were eventually suspended. On 26 October 1958, more than 27 years later, Tom Sonter, a man aged 22, found the wreckage while on a walk in the bush. The crash occurred in a very inaccessible area.
Crew:
Travis W. Shortridge, pilot,
Charles I. Dunnell, copilot.
Passengers:
Elsie May Glasgow,
Clyde C. Hood,
Hubert A. Farall,
Julian Margules,
William O’Reilly,
Claire Stokes.

Probable cause:

The aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path due to unfavorable winds. The crew failed to see and avoid the mountain due to low visibility and poor weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth at RAAF Laverton

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1931

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-22

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Laverton - Laverton

MSN:

603

YOM:

1928

Location:

Laverton AFB (Melbourne)

Victoria

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training mission out from RAAF Laverton. On final approach, the aircraft crashed in a field two miles from the airport. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.