Oceania | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a flight from Funafuti (Tuvalu Islands) to Nausori with a load of bomb. The approach and landing were completed in strong cross winds and upon landing, the twin engine aircraft went of control, skidded and veered off runway to the right before coming to rest in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The explosion on final impact was largely contributed by the presence of bombs.

Crash of a Douglas C54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kwajalein

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72320

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10425

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4567

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

6095

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Honiara-Henderson Field bound for New Zealand. While cruising off the Guadalcanal Island in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea south of the island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Sgt Charles St John,
Sgt Stanley Claughton,
F/Sgt Patrick Maher,
Sgt John Leonard,
Sgt Vere Mullany.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Whenuapai: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1944 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4519

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Whenuapai - Whenuapai

MSN:

5532

Location:

Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)

Auckland Council

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a circular training flight at RNZAF Whenuapai. On final approach, the right engine failed. The captain increased the power on left engine and with full flaps, attempted a single engine approach. The aircraft banked right, went out of control and crashed into trees. Four crew members were killed while the fifth occupant was seriously injured. He died a day later.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/Sgt Edward Brightwell,
F/Sgt James Pederson,
F/Sgt Archibald Alexander,
Sgt Harold Mauger,
Sgt Russell Robbie.

Probable cause:

The right engine failed most probably because the fuel selector was connected on an empty tank. It appears the pilot in command was not sufficiently trained to face up to such situation and his general experience was insufficient. When the control was lost on final approach, the left engine was at full power and the flaps were down, making the aircraft more vulnerable. These elements were considered as contributory factors, especially as the pilot had not been adequately trained to fly in such a configuration.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Makaranui

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

NZ413

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

New Plymouth - New Plymouth

Location:

Ohakune

Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, while on a training flight from New Plymouth, the aircraft suffered a fuel exhaustion and the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in Makaranui, near Ohakune. While all three occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Port Fairy: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

AW878

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

While cruising along the shore, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Port Fairy. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd AOS):
F/Sgt James Henry MacLellan, pilot,
F/Sgt Dennis Leslie Baulderstone, instructor,
LAC Norman Thomas Kruck, student observer,
LAC Brian Carter Ladyman, student observer.

Crash of a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat off Sydney: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1944 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat

Operator:

Registration:

VH-ABB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Sydney – Townsville

MSN:

S.877

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

2886

Circumstances:

After take off from Rose Bay in Sydney, the crew encountered technical problems with the flaps that should be raised manually because the electric flap motor failed. Twenty minutes into the flight, the flight oil pressure on starboard inner engine fell below normal levels. The captain decided to return to Rose Bay to rectify faults and the landing approach was made into the north and without flaps. Finding that he had excess height, the captain introduced a left-hand side-slip during the approach. On straighening out from the side-slip, the captain proceeded with the intention of making a normal landing. On checking the glide at about 40 feet, he realized that the aircraft was flattening out too high. He stopped easing back on the controls expecting the boat to sink further towards the water. Without any further control movement the aircraft completely stalled some twelve feet above the water, dropped sharply and made contact with the water in a normal attitude but with considerable force. Impact caused a major failure of the hull which allowed extensive break-up of the fuselage. Considerable length of the rear end of the hull and tail unit separated from rest of aircraft and both sections sank within 15 minutes. Passengers and crew escaped the wreckage and were rescued but one passenger drowned.
Crew:
Cpt K. C. Caldwell, pilot,
Cpt L. J. Brain, pilot.
Passenger drowned: Mr. J. Mott.
Source & photos:
http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/vh-abb/vhabb.html

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to an error of judgement on the part of the captain.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus off Hobsonville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

NZ154

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hobsonville - Hobsonville

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

While taking off from the upper Waitemata harbor off Hobsonville, the seaplane was hit by waves, damaging the port float and wing tip. The aircraft settled back onto the water and as the port wing touched the water, nosed in and sank. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was injured.
Crew:
F/O John Marshall,
F/O William Morrison,
LAC Whitefield.

Probable cause:

Hit by waves on takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura on Guadalcanal Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1944 at 0855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4575

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Luganville – Honiara

MSN:

6139

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Took off at 0600LT from Luganville on a flight to Honiara. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The last radio contact was heard at 0855LT when the aircraft was overflying the south part of the Guadalcanal Island. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and its wreckage was found a day later. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
F/O Selwyn Houghton, pilot,
W/O Joseph Crisp,
W/O Geoffrey Robins,
W/O Albert Douglas,
F/Sgt Francis Larnach.