Date & Time:
Oct 14, 1942 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
AW849
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
1
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to RAAF Laverton following a reconnaissance flight off the Australian coast to trace submarines. After the twin engine airplane went out of fuel, the pilot ordered his crew to bail out. He attempted an emergency landing when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located 13 km west of Tantanoola, bursting into flames. While the pilot was killed, both other crew members parachuted to safety.
Crew (2nd Air Observation School):
F/O Baxter Watson, pilot +2.
Crew (2nd Air Observation School):
F/O Baxter Watson, pilot +2.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion caused by a navigational error on part of the crew.
