Oceania | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed into the sea off Kavieng. No casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in Cunnamulla: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1940 at 1625 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth

Operator:

G. W. Young

Registration:

VH-UUG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Cunnamulla - Cunnamulla

MSN:

7110

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing both occupants.

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Whitemark

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

A4-17

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Whitemark (Flinders Island)

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 a Lockheed 10A Electra in Darwin

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 0545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UXI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Darwin – Adelaide

MSN:

1105

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft named 'Moresby' departed Darwin Airport at 0535LT bound for Adelaide with 10 soldiers and two crew on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force. Five minutes after takeoff, the right engine caught fire and the crew decided to return to Darwin. On final approach, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing when, in low visibility, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Engine fire after takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1939 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N4887

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Richmond – Point Cook

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Point Cook - Point Cook

MSN:

1355

YOM:

1929

Location:

Point Cook (Melbourne)

Victoria

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 a Avro 594 Avian II in Morven

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

E. D. Hill

Registration:

VH-UFY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

126

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft crash landed in Morven and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.

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

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1939

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Ray J. P. Parer

Registration:

VH-AAZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Salamaua – Wau

MSN:

4089

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau, carrying five bags of rice and two oil drums. Too low over the Bitoi Valley, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located in the Black Cat Range. The pilot W. Forgan Smith walked away in a thick forest for few days before finding help.

Probable cause:

Pilot's accident report to DCA: "I tried to regain height after a downdraft by zig-zagging up the valley because there was not enough room to turn. I had full throttle, the trees were getting closer and closer and the nose higher and higher until the machine stalled. I throttled back and hoped for the best. I hit the trees and got out. I walked to the river but there was a big waterfall which I could not get up, so I walked down the river in the other direction."