Crash of a Stinson Model A in Brisbane: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1937 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UGG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane – Townsville
MSN:
9122
YOM:
1936
Location:
Brisbane-Archerfield
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, while climbing at night and in foggy conditions, the three engine aircraft collided with trees, overturned and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed. The airplane was on its way to Townsville on an early morning newspapers flight.
Crew:
T. S. Cameron, pilot.
Passenger:
E. Shang.

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

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-ACI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Taeri - Taeri
MSN:
1564
YOM:
1930
Location:
Mosgiel
Otago 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 Taeri on a solo flight. While completing aerobatics, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a pasture. The pilot Errol Warrington Colvin was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth off Makara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-ACZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hokitika – New Plymouth
MSN:
3049
YOM:
1931
Location:
Makara
Greater Wellington 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:
A student pilot and an instructor were performing a training flight from Hokitika to New Plymouth. While overflying the Cook Strait in foggy conditions, the single engine aircraft crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. Some debris were found few days later on shore but no trace of both crewmen.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Ramu

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Ramu
MSN:
135
YOM:
1925
Location:
Ramu
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Ramu, the aircraft ran into high grass, went out of control and came to rest. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Stinson Model A in McPherson Range: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1937 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson Model A
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UHH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Brisbane – Lismore – Sydney
MSN:
9126
YOM:
1936
Location:
McPherson Range
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft named 'City of Brisbane' was performing a regular schedule flight from Brisbane to Sydney with an intermediate stop in Lismore. Some 40 minutes after takeoff from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport, while cruising in marginal weather conditions over the McPherson Range, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Both crewmen and two passengers were killed while three passengers survived. They walked away to find help but one of them (James Westray) died when he fall down a ravine. Eventually, on March 1st, 1937, the two last survivors (John Proud and Joseph Binstead) met Bernard O'Reilly, a bushman, and were rescued.
Crew:
Rex Boyden, pilot, †
Beverley Shepherd, copilot. †
Passengers:
R. Graham, †
W. Fountain, †
James Westray, †
John Proud,
Joseph Binstead.
Probable cause:
Prior to the accident, VH-UHH was being flown at a low altitude and under the cloud level, its pilot apparently trying to maintain visual contact with the ground, and the crash occurred when it encountered winds of up to 60 knots, which created a strong down drafts that exceeded its ability to climb.

Crash of a Simmonds Spartan in Staveley

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Simmonds Spartan
Operator:
New Zealand Airways
Registration:
ZK-AAY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4
YOM:
1929
Location:
Staveley
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Staveley, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. It broke in two and was destroyed by a post crash fire. Both occupants were slightly injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off Cairns: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1937 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UPQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cooktown – Cairns
MSN:
2085
YOM:
1930
Location:
Cairns
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While flying over the Trinity Bay, off Cairns, the single engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 16 km off Cairns. The pilot and a young boy aged 13 were injured while a girl aged 15 was killed. It appears that the aircraft was descending to the sea at a normal rate when it impacted the water surface and crashed.
Probable cause:
No mechanical failure. Investigation concluded that the pilot had fallen asleep and descended gradually into the sea.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Big Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Southland Airways
Registration:
ZK-ADC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Invercargill - Big Bay
MSN:
4025
YOM:
1932
Location:
Big Bay
Southland Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Hit an obstacle and crashed upon landing at Big Bay, Southland. A passenger died while four other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Cpt A.J.Bradshaw.
Passengers:
C. Buckingham,
George Ross,
W. E.Hunt,
Mr. Sutton Jones. †

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Melbourne

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AUL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
246
YOM:
1926
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Essendon Airport, the single engine aircraft clipped a tree and crashed 3 miles east of the airport, near a golf course. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-25 Monospar Jubilee in Mount Sir Samuel

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1936 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
General Aircraft ST-25 Monospar
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Agnew – Wiluna
MSN:
60
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mount Sir Samuel
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Agnew, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft contacted trees and crash landed. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants evacuated safely, among them the pilot Charles Snook.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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