Solomon Islands | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following an uneventful flight from Brisbane, the crew completed the approach and landing at Honiara-Henderson Airport. After touchdown on runway 24, the right main gear collapsed and punctured the right wing. The aircraft veered slightly to the right and came to a halt on the runway. All three occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The failure of the right main gear was the consequence of an inappropriate rework (ie, machining and re-threading) of the tee-bolt fitting and the associated installation of a reduced size nut and washer, during the last overhaul in 2004.

Crash of an Antonov AN-12BP in Honiara

Date & Time: Oct 16, 2001

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-12

Operator:

Registration:

ER-ADT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Brisbane - Honiara

MSN:

2 3 406 05

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Brisbane, the crew started the approach to Honiara-Henderson Airport. On final approach, the four engine airplane was too low when the right main gear struck the sea and was torn off. The crew increased engine power, continued the approach and completed the landing on runway 24. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway at high speed and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 on Mt Nasuha: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1991

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

H4-SIA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Honiara - Kirakira

MSN:

271

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Honiara-Henderson Airport on a flight to Kirakira, carrying 13 passengers and two pilots. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and while cruising at an altitude of 4,100 feet in poor visibility, the aircraft struck the southern slope of Mt Nasuha located in the southeast part of the Guadalcanal Island. The wreckage was found three days later in an isolated area and all 15 occupants were killed. It was reported that a local DME system was out of service at the time of the accident due to maintenance and the crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander off Bellona: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

H4-AAC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rennell Island - Bellona

MSN:

613

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Rennell Island to Bellona, while cruising in stormy weather, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Bellona Island. All 11 occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24 in Honiara

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Fletcher FU-24

Operator:

Registration:

VP-PAW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Honiara - Honiara

MSN:

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot was rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK off Savo Island

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

NZ3521

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

13929/25374

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, some 400 yards offshore. The aircraft sank and was lost while there were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Malaita Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4578

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

6209

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed. As the aircraft was carrying a load of bombs, the explosion on impact was so severe that no trace of the crew was found.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/O Keith Graham,
Sgt Melville Moxham,
F/Sgt Leo Marshall,
Sgt Eric Priest,
Sgt Douglas Reid.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4567

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

6095

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Honiara-Henderson Field bound for New Zealand. While cruising off the Guadalcanal Island in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea south of the island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Sgt Charles St John,
Sgt Stanley Claughton,
F/Sgt Patrick Maher,
Sgt John Leonard,
Sgt Vere Mullany.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1944 at 0855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4575

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Luganville – Honiara

MSN:

6139

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Took off at 0600LT from Luganville on a flight to Honiara. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The last radio contact was heard at 0855LT when the aircraft was overflying the south part of the Guadalcanal Island. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and its wreckage was found a day later. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/O Selwyn Houghton, pilot,
W/O Joseph Crisp,
W/O Geoffrey Robins,
W/O Albert Douglas,
F/Sgt Francis Larnach.