Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 near Katherine

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Katherine
Northern Territory
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 completing a drug smuggling flight and attempted to land on an abandoned airstrip located about 6 km west of Katherine. After the mishap, the crew set afire the airplane and left before being arrested by the police. On board was a load of 200,000 opium sticks for a total value of 3 millions US$.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL off Wanganui: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Akarana Air
Registration:
ZK-DBQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
680-1330-15
YOM:
1963
Location:
Wanganui
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons 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 airplane suffered a double engine failure in flight and crashed into the sea off the Whangaehu River mouth, south of Wanganui. Several debris were found floating on water but the pilot's body was never found.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan off Christchurch: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1977 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
Dalhoff & King Flying School
Registration:
ZK-TAS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wellington - Christchurch
MSN:
404-0067
YOM:
1977
Location:
Christchurch
Canterbury 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, sole on board, was completing a mail flight from Wellington to Christchurch. He departed FL100 and started the descent to Christchurch when he reported technical problems to ATC and later declared an emergency after an engine was shut down. Few seconds later, he lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the following causes have not been ruled out: a loss of control after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while trying to deal with an emergency situation in limited visibility (clouds), a loss of control because of airframe ice build-up, a structural failure with a severe fire in the engine bay, an explosion in hazardous cargo, a failure of the flying control system or a possible criminal mischief.

Crash of a Douglas VC-54D-10-DC in Roi-Namur

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1977 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72650
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Roi-Namur - Kwajalein
MSN:
10755
YOM:
1945
Location:
Roi-Namur
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a short positioning flight from Roi-Namur Airport (north part of the Kwajalein atoll) to the main airport of Kwajalein located on the south part of the same atoll. During the takeoff roll on runway 04, the captain decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest into the sea. The left wing was broken in two and the aircraft was later removed from water but declared as damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the 16 occupants.

Special thanks to US Army Louis D. Sutton, PIC on the following US Army C-54 that should takeoff immediately after the accident one, for his testimony.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28A-1 on Gabert Island

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1977 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.28A/B
Operator:
Pacific Missionary Aviation
Registration:
N96155
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:
Kolonia - Gabert Island
MSN:
3034
Location:
Gabert Island
Kosrae Island
Country:
Federated States of Micronesia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2403
Captain / Total hours on type:
343.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gabert Island Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered severe turbulences, lost height and crashed in a wooded area. Both wings were partially torn off and the aircraft was destroyed. All four occupants were injured.
Final Report:

Crash of a GAF Nomad N22 in Wewak

Date & Time: May 21, 1977
Type of aircraft:
GAF Nomad N.22
Operator:
Registration:
P2-DNJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
29
YOM:
1976
Location:
Wewak
Sandaun (West Sepik)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Wewak-Boram Airport. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B in Ardmore

Date & Time: May 9, 1977
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-EJM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14005
YOM:
1952
Location:
Ardmore
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane landed too far down the runway at Ardmore Airport. After touchdown, the pilot started the braking procedure when the left brakes failed. The airplane veered off runway to the right, struck a drainage ditch and came to rest with serious damages to its nose gear, engines and both wings. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was not repaired.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Buckambool

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
A14-692
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
692
YOM:
1968
Location:
Buckambool
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a hard landing at Buckambool. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950 near Pipiwai

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BHY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26
YOM:
1956
Location:
Pipiwai
Northland Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Kaikou River Valley, in the region of Pipiwai. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Brugam: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
P2-GKC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Wewak - Brugam
MSN:
402-0144
YOM:
1967
Location:
Brugam
East Sepik
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Brugam Airstrip, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed on a school building. All nine occupants on board the aircraft were injured while five schoolboy were killed and four others injured.
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