Region
Oceania
code

PNG

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IVA near the Kabu River: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-145
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lae – Rabaul
MSN:
414-6074
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kabu River
East New Britain
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying at night on a trip from Lae to Rabaul, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the region of the Kabu River. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (24th Squadron):
F/Lt Paul Pryde Paterson,
F/O James Sinclair McIntyre,
Sgt Oliver Frederick George Claxton,
LAC James Arthur Wilson.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kavieng: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-11
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kavieng - Kavieng
MSN:
279
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kavieng
New Ireland
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a reconnaissance flight in the region of Kavieng, New Ireland. Shortly after take off from the Kavieng's Bay, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control, crashed and sunk immediately in deep water. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Tom Davies, pilot,
P/O Russell Hender, copilot,
Cpl Harry Hornby, flight engineer,
LAC Leslie Hoare, flight engineer,
LAC Fred Anthony, wireless operator,
LAC Brian Wilcox, wireless operator,
LAC John Marks, armourer,
LAC C. Ogilvie, rigger.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Gemo Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Port Moresby, while climbing, the floatplane impacted the slope of a mountain located on Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O Lincoln James Sloan, pilot,
F/Lt Nelson Prior Reid, copilot,
Cpl Neville Lawrence Ernst, flight engineer,
Cpl Eric John O’Donnell, rigger,
LAC Charles James Matheson, flight engineer,
AC1 Keith Mighell Sidey, wireless operator,
AC1 Arthur Wallace Magee, wireless operator,
AC1 George Robert Peterson, armourer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Black Cat Creek

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4020
YOM:
1932
Location:
Black Cat Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Black Cat Trail, in the Bitoi Valley. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Wau

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UTB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5-AT-068
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wau Airport, the right engine failed. The airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in a river located near the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was performing a cargo flight, carrying a load of wood.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after takeoff due to the failure of the right engine.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bulolo – Wau
MSN:
1074
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the single engine airplane landed hard at Wau Airport. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair after cracks were found in the rear fuselage spars.
Probable cause:
Hard landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Marble Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.66 Hercules
Operator:
Stephens Aviation
Registration:
VH-UJO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
344
YOM:
1929
Location:
Marble Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau. Approaching the destination area, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Marble Creek. The wreckage was found four days later and the pilot was killed.

Crash of an Avro 616 Avian IVM in Slate Creek

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Avro 616 Avian IVM
Operator:
Stephens Aviation
Registration:
VH-UOE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
372
YOM:
1930
Location:
Slate Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Slate Creek and was wrecked. The pilot was rescued.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86B Express off Kavieng

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.86 Express
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UYW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2361
YOM:
1936
Location:
Kavieng
New Ireland
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Kavieng. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
6080
YOM:
1934
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wau, the twin engine aircraft was too low following a poor judgement on part of the pilot. He attempted to initiate a go around and increased engine power but the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area near the airport. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ron E. Doyle.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the pilot.
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