Oceania

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine failed shortly after take off from Balranald. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Point Cook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1938

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-68

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Point Cook - Point Cook

MSN:

1361

YOM:

1929

Location:

Point Cook (Melbourne)

Victoria

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a local training at Point Cook Airport. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. One of the pilot later died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O P. McDonough, instructor pilot, †
J. Costello, student pilot.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-210 in Mont Dandenong: 18 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1938 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UYC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Adelaide – Melbourne

MSN:

1566

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

While descending to Melbourne, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to locate the airport of Essendon. The pilot continued the descent and the aircraft named 'Kyeema' went through a thick layer of cloud when it impacted trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located in Mont Dandenong, some 40 km east of Essendon Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 18 occupants were killed.
Crew:
A. C. Webb, pilot,
A. J. Steen, copilot,
Phillip Pring, pilot, acting as radio operator,
Elva Jones, stewardess,

Probable cause:

The following deficiencies were identified as contributing to the accident:
1) The aircraft’s navigational log was either not kept or had not been properly utilized during the latter part of the flight, as required by the carrier;
2) The company’s procedure for descent through an overcast into this airport was not adopted, and
3) A request for a bearing from the aircraft was not received by the radio operator at the airport nor logged at any other operating station. Also noted in the investigative report was the lack in Australia of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) beacon network, and indeed, the crash of VH-UYC would prove pivotal in the development of the nation’s airway system.

Crash of a Simmonds Spartan Gipsy II in Mundaring Weir

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Simmonds Spartan

Operator:

Registration:

VH-URB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Perth – Adelaide

MSN:

YOM:

1932

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Region:

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Circumstances:

While overflying a hilly and wooded area, the pilot encountered downdraft and was unable to maintain control of the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to severe downdraft.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Windsor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A4-8

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond - Richmond

MSN:

974

YOM:

1936

Location:

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Region:

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Captain / Total flying hours:

Captain / Total hours on type:

14.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed RAAF Richmond at 1030LT. While cruising at an altitude estimated between 15,000 and 16,000 feet, he started a series of maneuvers when he lost control of the aircraft that stalled and went into a spin. The aircraft then lost a wing and an engine before crashing in a field located near Windsor, some 5 km east of Richmond AFB. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
John Fletcher, pilot.

Probable cause:

According to the RAAF Board, the pilot was inexperienced with a total of 82 flying hours and only 14 hours on Avro Anson. Aged 19, he lead the aircraft in a situation that he was unable to control.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in King Island-Currie

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

A4-15

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

MSN:

1010

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Upon landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine, bursting into flames. All four occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Innisfail: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1938 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UXK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Townsville – Innisfail – Cairns

MSN:

6053

YOM:

1933

Location:

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Region:

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Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Aircraft flight hours:

4680

Circumstances:

On final approach to Innisfail Airport, the pilot saw a tractor on the runway and initiated a go around procedure. Doing so, the airplane names 'Cairns' stalled and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. The pilot and four passengers were killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was totally wrecked.
Crew:
B. H. Goodson, pilot.

Probable cause:

Investigation stated the aircraft was correctly loaded, 180lb below Max All Up Weight, had flown 4,680 hours of which 3,620 hrs were in Australia over previous 23 months. Pilot Goodson had been with the airline only 3 days and had gained his Dragon endorsement flying a service to Townsville return not fully loaded and without landings en route. Goodson had 2,000 hours experience and had been an instructor with Rockhampton Aero Club, later CFI of Kingsford Smith Aviation Services, Sydney but had never flown a Dragon. He allowed the aircraft to stall during a discontinued approach because of a tractor on the runway.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Dromana: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1938 at 0945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A4-29

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1024

YOM:

1937

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training exercise. En route, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to low clouds. The twin engine airplane impacted the slope of hilly and wooded terrain and was partially destroyed. Four crew members were killed while a fifth occupant was injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Gillespie, †
P/O Robert Symmonds, †
AC1 Kenneth McKerrow, †
AC1 Robert Mawson, †
AC1 James Glover.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Liverpool: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A4-27

Flight Phase: