Morobe | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Wau Airport, the right engine failed. The airplane banked right, lost height and crashed in a river located near the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane was performing a cargo flight, carrying a load of wood.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after takeoff due to the failure of the right engine.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Wau

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-ULJ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bulolo – Wau

MSN:

1074

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the single engine airplane landed hard at Wau Airport. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair after cracks were found in the rear fuselage spars.

Probable cause:

Hard landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Marble Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.66 Hercules

Operator:

Stephens Aviation

Registration:

VH-UJO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Salamaua – Wau

MSN:

344

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau. Approaching the destination area, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Marble Creek. The wreckage was found four days later and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II in Wau: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

VH-URW

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Salamaua – Wau

MSN:

6080

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Wau, the twin engine aircraft was too low following a poor judgement on part of the pilot. He attempted to initiate a go around and increased engine power but the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area near the airport. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Ron E. Doyle.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in the Black Cat Range

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1939

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Ray J. P. Parer

Registration:

VH-AAZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Salamaua – Wau

MSN:

4089

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau, carrying five bags of rice and two oil drums. Too low over the Bitoi Valley, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located in the Black Cat Range. The pilot W. Forgan Smith walked away in a thick forest for few days before finding help.

Probable cause:

Pilot's accident report to DCA: "I tried to regain height after a downdraft by zig-zagging up the valley because there was not enough room to turn. I had full throttle, the trees were getting closer and closer and the nose higher and higher until the machine stalled. I throttled back and hoped for the best. I hit the trees and got out. I walked to the river but there was a big waterfall which I could not get up, so I walked down the river in the other direction."

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Mubo

Date & Time: May 9, 1938

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth

Operator:

Stephens Aviation

Registration:

VH-UJB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wau – Salamaua

MSN:

334

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Mubo while approaching Salamaua. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all nine occupants were unhurt.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Waipali

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1937

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.50

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UMN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wau – Lae

MSN:

LASCO.1

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a cargo flight from Wau to Lae, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Waipali. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of a Stinson SR-7B Reliant in Wau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1937

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SR-7 Reliant

Operator:

Registration:

VH-URC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wau – Lae

MSN:

9669

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Wau to Lae and initiated the takeoff roll in limited visibility due to fog. After liftoff, the aircraft struck a house at full power and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the owner of the house was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Wau

Date & Time: May 28, 1936

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.50

Operator:

Pacific Aerial Transport

Registration:

VH-UEK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

131

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing. Occupant faite unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Salamaua

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1935

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UJC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

333

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway end. The pilot was injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Cargo shifted after take off because it was not properly secured.