Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Wellington

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
K8541
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Wellington
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing in the harbor of Wellington, the float plane overturned and came to rest upside down. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to retract the landing gear prior to land on water.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Waipali

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UMN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Wau – Lae
MSN:
LASCO.1
YOM:
1929
Location:
Waipali
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:
While on a cargo flight from Wau to Lae, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Waipali. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Stinson SR-7B Reliant in Wau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SR-7 Reliant
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Lae
MSN:
9669
YOM:
1936
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:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Wau to Lae and initiated the takeoff roll in limited visibility due to fog. After liftoff, the aircraft struck a house at full power and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the owner of the house was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 in Brisbane: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane - Brisbane
MSN:
369
YOM:
1927
Location:
Brisbane-Archerfield
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While taking part to an airshow at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, the single engine aircraft collided in flight with another DH.60 of the Royal Queensland Aero Club registered VH-UAV. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed southeast of the airfield. Both pilots in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Brisbane: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane - Brisbane
MSN:
542
YOM:
1928
Location:
Brisbane-Archerfield
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While taking part to an airshow at Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, the single engine aircraft collided in flight with another DH.60 of the Royal Queensland Aero Club registered VH-UAV. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed southeast of the airfield. Both pilots in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a General Aircraft Genairco in Cairns

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1937
Type of aircraft:
General Aircraft Genairco
Operator:
C. A. Collas
Registration:
VH-UUK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
18
YOM:
1930
Location:
Cairns
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Cairns, the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a swampy area. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

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

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1937 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Benalla – Melbourne
MSN:
Genairco 7
Location:
Melbourne
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being flown by Jack Macalister who was attempting a night landing at Essendon Airport, Melbourne. Due to heavy fog, he flew over the city looking for an alternate landing ground. Attempting to land at the Malvern Oval, he struck the spire of St. George's Anglican church and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Kadina

Date & Time: May 15, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.9
Operator:
Skyways - Australia
Registration:
VH-UHT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Kadina
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Sydney

Date & Time: May 12, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVS
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sydney – Brisbane
MSN:
6265
YOM:
1934
Location:
Sydney-Kingsford Smith
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
All seven occupants (five passengers and both crew members) were on board and ready for departure on a flight to Brisbane. When the pilot started the engines, one of them exploded and the fire quickly spread to the rest of the structure. All seven occupants were able to evacuate and four were injured, among them the captain. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire at start up.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Cairns

Date & Time: May 7, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairns – Cooktown
MSN:
6027
YOM:
1933
Location:
Cairns
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cairns Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed 3 km from the airport. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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