Country
Papua New Guinea
code

Morobe

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Black Cat Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
6068
YOM:
1934
Location:
Black Cat Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a cargo flight from Salamaua to Wau, carrying one pilot and supplies to the Black Cat mining area. While approaching Wau, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot Colin Ferguson, sole on board, was killed.

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

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQJ
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:
331
YOM:
1932
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A gear failed upon landing at Wau Airport. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was performing an inaugural flight from Salamaua, carrying mail.
Probable cause:
Gear failure upon landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Kaiapit

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UKL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lae – Kaiapit
MSN:
891
YOM:
1929
Location:
Kaiapit
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, just prior to land, the aircraft stalled and hit the ground. It went out of control, veered off the grassy runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It appears that a foreign object came into the injection system and obstructed the fuel supply to the engine that stopped on final approach.

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

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1934
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UQQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
4021
YOM:
1932
Location:
Black Cat Creek
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Struck trees and crashed in Black Cat Creek, in the Bitoi Valley, PNG. The pilot E. D. 'Joss' Crisp departed Salamaua for Wau with a load of general stores, beer and spirits. Caught in severe downdraft from an electrical storm in the Bitoi Valley, forced into tree tops. The forward fuselage and cabin broke away and fell 70 feet to the ground, the cargo spilling out of the shattered cabin. Crisp was not injured but was strapped into the remains of the cockpit in the tree tops. Crisp climbed down the trees to the ground to camp in torrential rain and began walking out next day. He was found by a searching ground party the following day.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Kaiapit: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1934
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UHW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rabaul – Kaiapit
MSN:
330
YOM:
1929
Location:
Kaiapit
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kaiapit, the aircraft was too low and collided with a house located shot of runway. The airplane named 'Canberra' nosed down and crashed, bursting into flames. Both passengers were killed while both crew members were seriously injured.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian III in Bulolo

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UIV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salamaua – Bulolo
MSN:
193
YOM:
1929
Location:
Bulolo
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane went out of control upon landing and came to rest. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Wau: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UMJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1372
YOM:
1929
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wau Airport, the pilot attempted aerobatic manoeuvres at low height. He lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed. Both occupants, pilot Frank Drayton and passenger Lewis Harper were killed.

Crash of a Junkers W.33d in Wau

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.33
Operator:
Pacific Aerial Transport
Registration:
VH-UIW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2575
YOM:
1931
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing in Wau, the airplane named 'The Lady Lattie' veered off runway and came to rest into a hangar of the company. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Junkers W.34d in Wampit: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UNR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lae - Bulolo
MSN:
2611
YOM:
1930
Location:
Wampit
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Lae to Bulolo, weather conditions worsened and the crew encountered poor visibility due to mist. The airplane impacted trees and crashed in the jungle. The wreckage was found on 13 August 1931. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F3 in Salamaua

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F3
Operator:
Pacific Aerial Transport
Registration:
VH-UQF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salamaua – Wau
MSN:
1663
YOM:
1922
Location:
Salamaua
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Salamaua Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing near the Frisco River. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction caused by faulty maintenance.
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