Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

Operator:

Registration:

A16-83

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

414-1937

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed and burned on take off at Broome Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire while all four occupants were unhurt.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/L J. Sharp +3.

Probable cause:

Braking binding.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Canberra: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1940 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

A16-97

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Australian Capital Territory

Schedule:

Melbourne – Canberra

MSN:

414-1951

YOM:

1940

Location:

Canberra

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Melbourne-Moorabbin to Canberra on behalf of the Australian Government, carrying three Ministers and their staff. On final approach to Canberra in ideal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion some 2 km short of runway. Emergency teams were promptly at the scene but nothing could be done to save the 10 occupants.
Crew:
F/L Robert Edward Hitchcock,
P/O Richard Frederick Wiesener,
Cpl John Frederick Palmer,
AC1 Charles Joseph Crosdale.
Passengers:
Brig Geoffrey Austin Street, Minister for the Army and Repatriation,
James Valentine Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation,
Sir Henry Somer Gullett, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research,
Gen Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White, Chief of the General Staff,
Lt Col Francis Thornthwaite, Staff Officer to General White,
Richard Edwin Elford, Fairbairn's private secretary.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the Board of Inquiry found that it was most likely due to the aircraft stalling on approach, resulting in loss of control at a height that was insufficient for recovery.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Stradbroke Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-27

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Brisbane - Brisbane

MSN:

414-1878

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a training mission over the region of Brisbane. While cruising off the Stradbroke Island, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (23rd Squadron):
F/O Mervyn Stephen Matthews, pilot,
P/O Walter Keith Beeston, copilot,
Sgt Hamilton James O'Gorman,
Sgt Dudley Howard Downs,
LAC George Leslie Savage,
AC1 Francis John Starr.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Windsor: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1940 at 1610 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-58

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond - Richmond

MSN:

414-1911

YOM:

1940

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training flight out from RAAF Richmond. While cruising north of Windsor, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 8 km north of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/L James B. D. Hamilton,
P/O Wallace M. N. Stewart.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Torbreck: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A4-4

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Point Cook – Pearce – Camden

MSN:

970

YOM:

1936

Flight number:

8BNA

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAAF Point Cook at 1145LT on a flight to Camden with an intermediate stop at RAAF Pearce. While flying south of Eildon in foggy conditions, the pilot failed to realize that his altitude was insufficient. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Torbreck located northeast of Melbourne and was destroyed by impact forces. All rescue operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft was found. Eventually, the wreckage was located on 24 January 1941, no more than 200 feet below the summit. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/O Anthony Ashby Daniel,
Cpl Ivan Lapen Stowdor,
Cpl Francis Ettiene Hyland,
Cpl Herman Fred Sass.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Whitemark

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A4-17

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Whitemark (Flinders Island)

Location:

Tasmania

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing near the Whitemark Airfield. While all four occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Richmond: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4887

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond – Point Cook

Location:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Richmond Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on a golf course. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Arthur Moorhouse Watkins
F/Lt Hugh B. Horner,
F/O Henry Parker Fitzgerald,
F/O Malcolm Musgrave McInnes,
LAC Leonard J. King.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was caused by an engine failure shortly after rotation.

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

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1939 at 1135 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-62

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Point Cook - Point Cook

MSN:

1355

YOM:

1929

Location:

Point Cook (Melbourne)

Victoria

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Point Cook Airbase, while climbing, a wing failed. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km from the airport. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (1st FTS):
F/O R. T. Vincent,
P/O J. R. Whitford.

Probable cause:

Structure failure on a wing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Elwood: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

A4-11

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: