Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Bulolo

Date & Time: May 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AYD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Lae, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft came to rest in a field located near Bulolo and was damaged beyond repair. Both crewmen were unhurt.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Port Moresby

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AVQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lae – Port Moresby
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Port Moresby Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances 20 miles east of the city. Both crewmen were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-85-BW Superfortress off Kwajalein: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87638
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
12441
Region:
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from the Kwajalein Atoll Airport. All 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Gimbat Station

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
Q-12
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sydney – Jakarta
MSN:
13210
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the twin engine aircraft was hot by lightning. The electric systems failed and radio and navigation failed. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a uninhabited area and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Hit by lightning.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Bulolo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AKH
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lae - Bulolo
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Bulolo Airport, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon on Mt Kerigomna: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AOS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kerowagi – Lae
MSN:
2006
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,500 feet in poor weather conditions, while on a cargo flight from Kerowagi to Lae, the twin engine aircraft hit the rocky face of Mt Kerigomna (3,204 meters high). The wreckage was spotted by another Mandated Airlines crew three days later and the body of the pilot Douglas G. Tapsall, who was killed, was later recovered.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Schofields

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ADT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1409
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the left main gear collapsed after hitting a log. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Port Moresby

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-AVZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cape York - Port Moresby
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Port Moresby, the brakes failed. The aircraft overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off. It was performing a flight from Cape York-Higgins Field (Red Island, Queensland).
Probable cause:
Failure of the brake systems.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Darwin

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
A65-115
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Darwin - Darwin
MSN:
16716/33464
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a training flight in Darwin and flying along the coast, the right engine caught fire. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft about 500 yards off the Mindil Beach. All five crew members were injured while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
F/Lt A. A. Lange,
W/O R. McGrath,
LAC B. R. Hanson,
LAC R. S. Bowley,
LAC J. J. Harvey.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Wewak

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ARI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2028
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
780
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the right engine lost power and failed. The pilot made a turn to the left and attempted to make an emergency landing on a beach when the aircraft hit a coconut tree and crashed. The pilot was injured while five other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Testimony from the pilot:
"I drained both fuel tanks for water prior to take-off, but apparently there was still water in one. I had 5 passengers on board. I took off without trouble, but the instant we were off the starboard engine began misfiring, and it lost power fast. Because of the country I commenced a left turn, into the live engine, to try to reach the beach, but I couldn't make it. I put her down on a bit of a clearing in a sacsac swamp. The starboard wing bit a coconut palm and we slewed right around. I banged my head somewhere and got a cut scalp. The passengers were alright though. She burst into flames - was a write-off."
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh84-pt2/dh84-dragon-pt2.htm
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the right engine was caused by the contamination of fuel by water.