Papua New Guinea

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wewak – Momote

MSN:

5001

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, Captain Clarrie R. Hibbert (Acting Regional Director of Papua-New Guinea) was flying a departmental Drover three engine aircraft from Wewak to Momote. While cruising about 90 miles from its destination, part of a propeller blade on the port engine flew off and penetrated the cockpit, knocking the pilot unconscious and smashing his left foot. One of the passenger succeeded in dragging the pilot from his seat and in leveling out the aircraft and ditching it. With the other passenger's help he got the pilot into the rubber dinghy and, using its 'Gibson Girl' emergency beacon, attracted a Qantas DC-3 which, in turn, led an RAAF crash launch to rescue the three men who had then been adrift for ten hours. The aircraft sank in deep water and was a total loss.

Probable cause:

Loss of a propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Yarramunda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-URV

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mount Hagen – Ogelbeng – Tremearne – Baiyer River – Wabag – Wapenamanda – Yarramunda – Madang

MSN:

6089

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a flight from Mount Hagen to Madang with stops scheduled in Ogelbeng, Tremearne, Baiyer River, Wabag, Wapenamanda and Yarramunda, carrying two inspectors from the DCA and one pilot who were performing inspections of various local airfields. While flying in a narrow valley, the pilot elected to gain height when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Sydney W. Peebles.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was caused by the inexperience of the pilot who has 6,000 flying hours but little Highlands experience and was restricted by Qantas to the Madang - Goroka route. He took the DCA charter against company regulations and flew the wrong way up a narrowing valley, attempting to out climb rising terrain while throwing passenger's baggage out to reduce the load.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Amele

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

VH-ASR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Madang – Mendi

MSN:

251

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the engine failed and the propeller fell away. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in Amele, about 16 km southwest of Madang. The aircraft crash landed near the Gogol River and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants, among them R. H. Gibbes, were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 300 pounds above the MTOW.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Karanka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1951 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AXL

Flight Phase:

De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lae – Wabag

MSN:

2071

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, Captain Frederick G. Barlogie, was performing a cargo flight from Lae to Wabag. En route, he encountered poor conditions with reduced visibility due to smoke haze. The twin engine aircraft was flying at an insufficient height when it hit obstacles and crashed in a wooded area located 5 km from Katanka Airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed and the sole occupant was killed.

Probable cause:

Investigation found that the pilot continued the flight under conditions of reduced visibility in severe smoke haze so that flight in sight of ground could only be maintained at a dangerously low altitude.

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 1 off Lae: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1951 at 0907 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-EBQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wau – Bulolo – Lae

MSN:

5003

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

200

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft left Bulolo at 0835LT bound for Lae. 31 minutes later, while approaching Lae Airport, the pilot informed ground about his position over the mouth of Markham River. While flying in a visibility of two miles due to rain falls, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in to the Huon Gulf, about four miles south of Lae Airport. Some debris were found around noon and all seven occupants were killed, among them the pilot Captain J. W. Spiers.
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/drover/drover.htm

Probable cause:

The initial finding of investigation by DCA and QEA was a pilot error in that he continued the flight under VFR into reduced visibility in low cloud and rain. The wreckage salvaged included the centre propeller which was missing blade. This was assumed to be caused by the impact with the sea. However, after the ditching of VH-DHA on 16APR1952, renewed investigations revealed that the missing centre propeller blade had suffered a structural failure and broke away in flight, causing the engine to pull out of its mounting and the pilot to lose control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Kerowagi

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-BDB

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Kerowagi – Wau

MSN:

2063

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft failed to gain height after takeoff and crashed. Three occupants, among them the pilot, were seriously injured. The aircraft was written off. Investigators found that the aircraft was overloaded by at least 18 kilograms and had 8 passengers and 2 crew, when only certificated to carry 6 passengers. Only 4 seat belts were fitted and no passengers were wearing seat belts. Unsecured freight was carried behind the passengers, moving forward on impact and hitting the passengers. The pilot had not completed a load sheet or calculated the centre of gravity. The tailwind on takeoff exceeded the maximum allowable for Kerowagi Airfield.

Probable cause:

The aircraft failed to become airborne when taking off from an airstrip at high density altitude due to incorrect technique on the part of the pilot in that he failed to adjust the mixture controls to obtain maximum engine power.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Slate Creek

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AAC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Landing (descent or approach)

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

6025

YOM:

1933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the pilot Tom Lumme was forced to make an emergency landing near Slate Creek for unknown reason. All six occupants were unhurt and rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Goroka

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

VH-BNL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lae – Goroka

MSN:

270

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The day prior to the accident, while on a cargo flight from Lae to Goroka, the pilot Frank J. Goosens was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field located five miles southeast of Goroka due to poor visibility. After he spent the night in the aircraft, he decided to leave the area bound for Goroka when, during the takeoff roll, the left wing hit an earth mound. The aircraft crashed, injuring the pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414-08 Hudson IVA in Lae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

VH-BDN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors: