Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth off Ettalong Beach

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Eastern Air Transport (Australia)
Registration:
VH-UAH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sydney - Ettalong Beach
MSN:
245
YOM:
1926
Location:
Ettalong Beach
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Sydney-Mascot Airport on a charter service to Ettalong Beach. On approach, it went out of control and crashed into the sea few hundred metres offshore. Both occupants were rescued and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. This was the fifth accident for this airplane since 1926. It was not repaired.

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 an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I into Lake Ellesmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1941 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ252
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wigram – Wigram
MSN:
59
YOM:
1938
Location:
Lake Ellesmere
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training exercise out from RNZAF Wigram. On approach to the airbase in relative strong crosswinds, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into Lake Ellesmere located south of the airbase. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
LAC Ronald Brown,
LAC Norman Marshall.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Coen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1941 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Horn Island - Coen - Cairns
MSN:
2088
YOM:
1932
Location:
Coen
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Horn Island on a schedule service to Cairns with an intermediate stop at Coen Airport (Queensland) to refuel. On approach to Coen, the left wing failed and the airplane crashed in an open field. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Frank Cohen, pilot.
Passengers:
Charles Hardy,
T. R. Miller.
Probable cause:
The left wing broke off on approach, maybe due to a structural failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Darwin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-8
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Darwin - Dawrin
MSN:
414-1859
YOM:
1940
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 13th Squadron. After simulating an aerial attack, the pilot initiated a steep descent. Approaching the ground, he pulled up the control column but the airplane impacted the ground with its left wing. The left engine was torn off and the pilot regain control for few seconds before the aircraft eventually crashed into the sea, some 250 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Murray Charles Davies,
F/O Paul John Wallace Keely,
Sgt Maxwell Alexander Hipkins,
LAC James Curry.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment on part of the pilot who did not evaluate correctly the distance with the ground while simulating an attack.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Brisbane

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-85
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane - Brisbane
MSN:
540
YOM:
1928
Location:
Brisbane-Archerfield
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport. Both pilots were uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at Wigram AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1941 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1296
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
MSN:
547
YOM:
1940
Location:
Wigram AFB (Christchurch)
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wigram AFB, the aircraft banked left and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot, who was performing a solo training flight, was killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
LAC Albert Maher, pilot.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after liftoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Cootamundra: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
A33-2
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6318
YOM:
1935
Location:
Cootamundra
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The pilot tried to maintain control of the aircraft that stalled, hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area 1 mile from the airport. All four passengers were injured and the pilot was killed.
Crew (1st AOS):
F/O William Wynward Adrian, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in the Tararua Mountain Range: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1941 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
553
YOM:
1940
Location:
Tararua Mountain Range
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed RNZAF Woodbourne (near Blenheim) at 0907LT with a scheduled return at 1115LT. The aircraft failed to return and SAR were initiated. Unfortunately, no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot found and all operations were abandoned after a week. A hunter found the wreckage on April 5, 1980 in an isolated area located in the Tararua Mountain Range, between Masterton, Paraparaumu and Waikanae.
Crew:
LAC Selwyn Sinclair, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II off Blenheim: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1941 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1276
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Woodbourne - Woodbourne
MSN:
2681
YOM:
1940
Location:
Blenheim
Marlborough District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a training flight with another Airspeed Oxford registered NZ1246. En route, both aircraft collided for unknown reasons. As the pilot of NZ1246 was able to make an emergency landing at RNZAF Woodbourne, NZ1276 crashed into the sea off Blenheim, killing the pilot.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Alex Haigh, pilot.
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