Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Coolibah: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1949 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wyndham – Coolibah – Tennant Creek
MSN:
6384
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
CK1203
Location:
Coolibah
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot George C. 'Colin' Johnston was performing a flight from Wyndham to Tennant Creek with an intermediate stop in Coolibah, NT. The twin engine aircraft landed at 1210LT and some mail was delivered to the pilot who took off at 1300LT. Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was probably the result of severe turbulences and reduced performance due to a high density altitude.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Tamworth

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BDO
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Tamworth
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. All seven passengers were able to vacate the cabin while the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine caused by a fuel line that was blocked by a hornet's nest.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Tapini

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Tapini
MSN:
4040
YOM:
1933
Location:
Tapini
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was performing a flight from Port Moresby with three passengers, one pilot and two sacks of rice. Upon landing, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft veered off runway and eventually collided with an embankment. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was not repaired and considered as damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the pilot was normally on DC-3's and that his experience on DH.83 Fox Moth was negligible. Apparently, the aircraft encountered katabatic winds on landing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Lakes Entrance: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
AW660
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Lakes Entrance
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bass Strait, few km off Lakes Entrance. The wreckage was found two days later. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL in Perth: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1949 at 0215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-MME
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Perth – Carnarvon – Darwin
MSN:
9350
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
MV772
Location:
Perth
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff, while climbing to a height of 600 pieds, the aircraft christened 'Fitzroy' nosed down and plunged into the earth, crashing in a huge explosion with flaps and undercarriage retracted. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The report confirmed that the crash occurred because the aircraft stalled and the pilots were unable to regain control. However, the evidence was not sufficient to allow determination of what caused the stall. The report conceded that over-loading of the aircraft's rear baggage compartment may have contributed to the stall. The inquiry was critical of the operator and the Department of Civil Aviation. In particular, it was critical of the operator's poor standards of maintenance of aircraft instruments. For this reason, the inquiry recommended the operator's airline licence should be suspended or cancelled. It also considered the Department should have made more checks of the operator's methods and record keeping. The Minister declined to take action against the operator, saying its maintenance record keeping had improved significantly since the accident. He also cited the hardship that would be inflicted on many remote communities in Western Australia if the operator's airline licence were to be suspended or cancelled.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson 1 in Kerowagi

Date & Time: May 11, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BBZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Kerowagi
Simbu (Chimbu)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During a downwind takeoff roll at Kerowagi Airfield, the left main gear hit a drain and collapsed. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest. The pilot Neville Mitchell was slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Bulolo

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1949
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-GAV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lae – Bulolo
MSN:
4047
YOM:
1933
Location:
Bulolo
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bulolo, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot (Captain R. C. T. 'Dick' Burt) made a forced landing but the aircraft struck a rock outcrop near Bulolo known to pilots as The Pimple. The aircraft was written off while both occupants survived.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in Dubbo

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1949 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
VH-EAS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dubbo - Dubbo
MSN:
1184
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dubbo
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission. After several landings and takeoffs completed, the crew consisting of one instructor and seven pilots under supervision decided to perform a flapless landing. After touchdown, the pilot in command realized that his speed was too high and that he would be unable to stop within the remaining distance. He took the decision to make a sharp turn to the right to vacate the runway when the left main gear collapsed. The left wing contacted the ground and was sheared off at the root, causing the fuel to flow on the ground and to ignite while contacting sparks generated by the friction of the metal with the runway surface. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All eight occupants were quickly evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The crew attempted a flapless landing under unsuitable meteorological and wind conditions.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Waikanae: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1949 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-AKX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Whenuapai – Paraparaumu
MSN:
2382
YOM:
1943
Location:
Waikanae
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The descent to Paraparaumu was started in marginal weather conditions. On approach, at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Keruru' hit tree tops and crashed on the wooded slope of a mountain located in Waikanae, about 11 km from the airport. The wreckage was reached by rescuers two hours later. The aircraft was destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a faulty navigation on part of the crew who continued the approach at an insufficient altitude. Low visibility due to low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.
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