All Papua New Guinea | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at an altitude of 2,285 meters in bad weather conditions, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located a mile away from Kuli. The wreckage was found two days later and both occupants were killed, the pilot Cpt Desmond J. Gleeson and a native passenger.

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 1 into the Bismarck Sea

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1952

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover

Operator:

Registration:

VH-DHA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Wewak – Momote

MSN:

5001

YOM:

1947

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The pilot, Captain Clarrie R. Hibbert (Acting Regional Director of Papua-New Guinea) was flying a departmental Drover three engine aircraft from Wewak to Momote. While cruising about 90 miles from its destination, part of a propeller blade on the port engine flew off and penetrated the cockpit, knocking the pilot unconscious and smashing his left foot. One of the passenger succeeded in dragging the pilot from his seat and in leveling out the aircraft and ditching it. With the other passenger's help he got the pilot into the rubber dinghy and, using its 'Gibson Girl' emergency beacon, attracted a Qantas DC-3 which, in turn, led an RAAF crash launch to rescue the three men who had then been adrift for ten hours. The aircraft sank in deep water and was a total loss.

Probable cause:

Loss of a propeller blade in flight.

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

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1951 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AXL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Lae – Wabag

MSN:

2071

YOM:

1943

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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 Canadian Vickers OA-10A Canso A into the Bismarck Sea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)

Operator:

Registration:

44-34050

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Mokerang - Mokerang

MSN:

CV-561

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The seaplane left Mokerang Airfield at 0330LT to test the distance measuring equipment for COMAIR Admiralties. As the aircraft failed to return, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 12 occupants was found.
Crew (1551st AAFBU):
1st Lt Paul W. Drew, pilot,
Cpl Earnest John Bauer, flight engineer,
Sgt Ralph Elliott Beirdneau, radio operator,
Cpl Harry D. Paige Jr., radio operator.
Passengers:
1st Lt Paul C. Crouch,
1st Lt Gordon A. Johnson,
2nd Lt Robert L. Flicker,
2nd Lt Milton M. Tittler,
2nd Lt Ralph J. Greco,
S/Sgt Robert P. Eisele,
Sgt Clyde Allen Walker,
Cpl Carl A. Spangler.