Region
Oceania

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Geelong: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
John W. Paulden
Registration:
VH-UPP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ballan - Geelong
MSN:
355
YOM:
1927
Location:
Geelong
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being flown by John W. Paulden and Eric Morris. Witnesses stated that the engine seemed to have quit at about 1,000 feet on descent into Belmont Airport at Geelong. The aircraft evidently stalled in from some 200 feet. Paulden and Morris (popularly known as 'Exide Eric', due to his battery business) were killed. C.D. Pratt, tutor of Paulden and Morris, was flying another Moth some 30 feet above them when the accident happened (seems a little close?). Previous owners had reported the tendency for engine failure on this particular machine.

Source: Ed Coates

Crash of an Avro 619 Five in Maryborough: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Avro 619 Five
Operator:
Queensland Air Navigation
Registration:
VH-UNK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
370
YOM:
1930
Location:
Maryborough
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Maryborough Airfield, while climbing, the three engine airplane went out of control and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Pilot:
B. P. Davidson.
Passenger:
J. H. Higgens.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in the Darling Range: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Wings Ltd
Registration:
VH-UPC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Maylands - Maylands
MSN:
2021
YOM:
1930
Location:
Perth
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying over the Darling Range, the aircraft went out of control, enetered a dive and crashed in hilly terrain, killing all three occupants.
Crew:
Charles Nesbit, pilot and Managing Director of Wings Ltd,
Passengers:
William Bell,
Mrs. Haidee Rae.
Probable cause:
Inspection found that the starboard wing had separated from the airframe, caused by failure of the main spar at the root of the wing.

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

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UFL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane - Brisbane
MSN:
352
YOM:
1927
Location:
Brisbane-Archerfield
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in Pinkenba, near the shore of the Brisbane River. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.

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

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-6
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
549
YOM:
1928
Location:
Werribee
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAAF Point Cook for a local training flight. While practicing landing, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Junkers A.50 in Manly: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Junkers A.50
Operator:
H. J. Barryman
Registration:
VH-UNO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sydney - Sydney
MSN:
3507
YOM:
1930
Location:
Manly
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane named 'Wandouree' departed Sydney-Mascot on a local joyride. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in Manly. The pilot Henry Goya Henry was seriously injured and lost a leg and the passenger was killed.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian IV in Tamworth: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
J. H. Bettington
Registration:
VH-UKR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tamworth - Tamworth
MSN:
205
YOM:
1929
Location:
Tamworth
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tamworth for a local flight. The pilot was completing aerobatics when the propeller detached. He lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airfield. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the propeller detached in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Orroroo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Commercial Aviation Company - Australia
Registration:
VH-UJW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
837
YOM:
1929
Location:
Orroroo
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Adelaide-Parafield on an ambulance flight. En route, En route, the airplane entered a valley shrouded in clouds. The pilot lost his orientation when the airplane impacted hilly terrain and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth near Miles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
A. J. Murphy
Registration:
G-AUFJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
278
YOM:
1926
Location:
Miles
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Miles Airfield with one pilot and one passenger on board. En route, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed on the property of Herbert Rayner, some 18 miles from Miles. Both occupants A. J. Murphy and Mr. G. Mundell were killed.

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

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-10
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
543
YOM:
1928
Location:
Laverton AFB (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 aircraft crashed about 1,500 metres from RAAF Laverton after striking a haystack and shearing of the undercarriage while performing manoeuvres at low level without authorization. The aircraft crashed a short distance from the haystack and was destroyed. Flying Officer Leo J. Ryan survived the impact and was critically injured and later died of those injuries in Caulfield Repatriation Hospital two days later.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.
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