Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide off Cairns: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1951
Registration:
VH-CFA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vanrook – Cairns
MSN:
6814
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning to Cairns from am ambulance flight to Vanrook Station bringing a seriously injured stockman to Cairns Base Hospital. The aircraft had no radio navigation aids and the pilot was unable to locate Cairns due to thick smoke from the annual sugar cane burn-off by farmers. When fuel was low, the pilot decided to ditch the aircraft in the sea, about 24 km (15 miles) north of Cairns. They were unable to drag the unconscious patient from the aircraft before the Rapide immediately sank. The three survivors swam to shore and reached a beach after six hours in the water.
Crew:
Cpt Neville Hicks, pilot.
Passengers:
Keith Howard, ambulance officer,
Larry Hansen, friend of the injured man 1.
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh89/dh89.htm
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Avro 691 Lancastrian 3 in Sydney

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-EAV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sydney – Auckland
MSN:
1291
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While accelerating during the takeoff run, the four engine aircraft deviated to the left. The captain applied right rudder and advanced the throttles with the number one engine leading to compensate. Unfortunately, the number one engine failed. Despite this corrective action, the airplane went out of control and veered off runway to the right. When it departed the pavement, the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. All seven crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one during takeoff procedure.

Crash of a Short S.45 Solent 3 off Brisbane

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TOC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brisbane – Port Moresby
MSN:
S.1308
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The takeoff procedure from the Brisbane River was completed by night. After liftoff, while climbing to a height of 5 meters at a speed of 110 knots, the seaplane hit a davit on the stern of a moored dredge, causing the right wing to be cut off for about 6.7 meters in line with the float. The fuselage was also badly damaged in different points. The crew abandon the takeoff and was able to park the airplane on the beach. All four crew members were unhurt but the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Cpt K. H. Goddard,
Cpt P. H. Mathieson,
F/O J. Cole,
F/O R. Bush, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the takeoff procedure was attempted in strong winds and that the crew failed to observe the obstacles in due time.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove near Kalgoorlie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1951 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AQO
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Perth – Kalgoorlie
MSN:
04002
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While descending to Kalgoorlie, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie located about 22 km west of Kalgoorlie, in the Kurrawang Natural Reserve. All seven occupants were killed, among them Captain Charles M. Hood and hostess/radio operator Dorothy Reilly.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by the physical loss of the left wing that detached in flight due to metal fatigue.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Amele

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ASR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Madang – Mendi
MSN:
251
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed and the propeller fell away. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in Amele, about 16 km southwest of Madang. The aircraft crash landed near the Gogol River and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants, among them R. H. Gibbes, were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was 300 pounds above the MTOW.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Turkey Creek

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1951 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AIK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Turkey Creek – Alice Springs
MSN:
6497
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at Turkey Creek Aerodrome, ready for a flight to Alice Springs, the pilot started the engine when a fire erupted. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft would be destroyed by fire. Pilot was Eddie Connellan.
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh89/dh89.htm

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Karanka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1951 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AXL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lae – Wabag
MSN:
2071
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, Captain Frederick G. Barlogie, was performing a cargo flight from Lae to Wabag. En route, he encountered poor conditions with reduced visibility due to smoke haze. The twin engine aircraft was flying at an insufficient height when it hit obstacles and crashed in a wooded area located 5 km from Katanka Airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed and the sole occupant was killed.
Probable cause:
Investigation found that the pilot continued the flight under conditions of reduced visibility in severe smoke haze so that flight in sight of ground could only be maintained at a dangerously low altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK off Hobart: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1951 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TAT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
13083
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Hobart Airport, while in initial climb, the crew started a turn at low height when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Barilla Bay, less than 3 km from the airfield. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of lateral control during a turn at low altitude soon after takeoff was probably caused by the presence of ice on the aircraft surface.

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 1 off Lae: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1951 at 0907 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-EBQ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wau – Bulolo – Lae
MSN:
5003
YOM:
31
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
200
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft left Bulolo at 0835LT bound for Lae. 31 minutes later, while approaching Lae Airport, the pilot informed ground about his position over the mouth of Markham River. While flying in a visibility of two miles due to rain falls, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in to the Huon Gulf, about four miles south of Lae Airport. Some debris were found around noon and all seven occupants were killed, among them the pilot Captain J. W. Spiers.
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/drover/drover.htm
Probable cause:
The initial finding of investigation by DCA and QEA was a pilot error in that he continued the flight under VFR into reduced visibility in low cloud and rain. The wreckage salvaged included the centre propeller which was missing blade. This was assumed to be caused by the impact with the sea. However, after the ditching of VH-DHA on 16APR1952, renewed investigations revealed that the missing centre propeller blade had suffered a structural failure and broke away in flight, causing the engine to pull out of its mounting and the pilot to lose control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I off Swansea

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BAB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nabiac – Sydney
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising along the shore, the left engine failed. Shortly later, the right engine lost power and failed as well. In such conditions, the pilot reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft about 10 miles south of Swansea. All eleven occupants took refuge on both wings and were later rescued by the crew of a fishing boat while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.