Crash of an Avro 594 Avian IV in Tamworth: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
J. H. Bettington
Registration:
VH-UKR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tamworth - Tamworth
MSN:
205
YOM:
1929
Location:
Tamworth
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Tamworth for a local flight. The pilot was completing aerobatics when the propeller detached. He lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airfield. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the propeller detached in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.27 in the Kuper Range

Date & Time: May 31, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.27
Operator:
Ellyou Goldfields Development Corporation
Registration:
VH-ULK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
W9/1
YOM:
1929
Location:
Kuper Range
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Salamaua to Wau, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Misim located in the Kuper Range, some 10 km east of Wau. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Te Awamutu: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1930 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Bryant House Airways
Registration:
G-EBZY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Te Awamutu - Te Awamutu
MSN:
806
YOM:
1929
Location:
Te Awamutu
Waikato Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Captain A. W. Saunders was performing demo flights on the racecourse of Te Awamutu. With his passenger Alfred W. Minchin, he climbed to a height of 1,000 feet when the plane was seen to enter a spin. The spin was recovered from about 50 feet and the Moth was still diving when it impacted the ground. Both occupants were seriously injured and evacuated to the local hospital. While the passenger died from his injuries in the evening, the pilot died the following day. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot intended to demonstrate a spin but made an error when, prior to the spin entry, he overestimated his height.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Orroroo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Commercial Aviation Company - Australia
Registration:
VH-UJW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
837
YOM:
1929
Location:
Orroroo
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Adelaide-Parafield on an ambulance flight. En route, En route, the airplane entered a valley shrouded in clouds. The pilot lost his orientation when the airplane impacted hilly terrain and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Junkers W.34 in Wau

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UGZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2601
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:
On final approach to Wau, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It appears that the stall was the consequence of an insufficient approach speed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth near Miles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
A. J. Murphy
Registration:
G-AUFJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
278
YOM:
1926
Location:
Miles
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Miles Airfield with one pilot and one passenger on board. En route, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed on the property of Herbert Rayner, some 18 miles from Miles. Both occupants A. J. Murphy and Mr. G. Mundell were killed.

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

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-10
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
543
YOM:
1928
Location:
Laverton AFB (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed about 1,500 metres from RAAF Laverton after striking a haystack and shearing of the undercarriage while performing manoeuvres at low level without authorization. The aircraft crashed a short distance from the haystack and was destroyed. Flying Officer Leo J. Ryan survived the impact and was critically injured and later died of those injuries in Caulfield Repatriation Hospital two days later.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Dornier Do.12A Libelle I off Auckland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.12 Libelle
Operator:
Aerial Services New Zealand
Registration:
ZK-ABI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Auckland - Auckland
MSN:
101
YOM:
1929
Location:
Auckland
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local test flight out of Auckland when the engine misfired on approach. The seaplane stalled and crashed in the Mechanics Bay, off Milford Beach. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Don Harkness, pilot.
Passenger:
Charles Goldsbro.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Modbury

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1929
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Adelaide - Adelaide
MSN:
712
YOM:
1928
Location:
Adelaide
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight out from Adelaide-Parafield Airport. In flight, while completing aerobatics manoeuvre, a wing failed. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, injuring both occupants.
Probable cause:
Wing failure.

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

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1929
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Jesse E. O’Connor
Registration:
VH-UHF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
406
YOM:
1927
Location:
Gerringong
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying off Seven Miles Beach, Gerringong, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the sea. Both occupants Jesse E. O’Connor and Wilbert Berg were killed.
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