Country
Papua New Guinea
code

Madang

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Madang

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16355/33103
YOM:
1945
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Madang Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of technical problems with the brakes.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Madang

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madang - Mendi
MSN:
15344/26789
YOM:
1944
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Madang to Mendi. While approaching Mendi Airstrip, a failure of the hydraulic system forced the crew to return to Madang for a safe landing. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a lake. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The hydraulic failure caused the braking system to be inoperable.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon off Madang

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Madang Air Charters
Registration:
VH-AOE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2058
YOM:
1943
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a local sightseeing flight, carrying two European tourists and one pilot. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, both engines encountered problems. The aircraft stalled and crashed in the harbor of Madang and came to rest upside down. All three occupants were quickly rescued and uninjured. An attempt to recover the airplane was made on November 8 but it broke in two when it went out of water.
Probable cause:
It was determined that fuel was contaminated by water, causing both engine to malfunction.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Amele

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ASR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Madang – Mendi
MSN:
251
YOM:
1943
Location:
Amele
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
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.

Crash of a North American B-25D-10 Mitchell in Saidor: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-30337
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
87-8502
Location:
Saidor
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions in the region of Saidor, the aircraft collided with a USAAF Lockheed F-5A Lightning registered 42-67350 and crashed. Four crew were killed while two others were injured. The fate of the second aircraft and its crew remains unknown.

Crash of a North American B-25D-5 Mitchell off Kar Kar Island

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-30020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
MSN:
87-8185
Location:
Kar Kar Island
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft into the Bismarck sea, east of the Kar Kar Island. While the aircraft was lost, all six occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas A-20G-30-DO Havoc in Wabusarik

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
43-9628
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae - Lae
Location:
Wabusarik
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Wabusarik, Madang Province. While all three occupants were rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-145-CO Liberator: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-41188
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2263
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it was attacked by enemy fire and crashed near Madang. Eight crew were killed while four others were taken as POW and later executed by the Japanese soldiers.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Fokker Super Universal in Alexishaven: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Fokker Super Universal
Operator:
Catholic Mission of the Holy Ghost
Registration:
VH-UJT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Alexishaven – Salamaua
MSN:
436
YOM:
1929
Location:
Alexishaven
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Danip Airfield, the single aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants, among them the pilot Willy Schaffhausen.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was overloaded.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Ramu

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.50
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wau – Ramu
MSN:
135
YOM:
1925
Location:
Ramu
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing in Ramu, the aircraft ran into high grass, went out of control and came to rest. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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