New South Wales | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The three engine aircraft departed Sydney at 0810LT bound for Melbourne. En route, the crew encountered strong unfavorable winds and the weather conditions worsened with poor visibility. The aircraft named 'Southern Cloud' hit the slope of a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains, in the Kosciuszko National Park, west of Jindabyne. SAR were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants were found, so all operations were eventually suspended. On 26 October 1958, more than 27 years later, Tom Sonter, a man aged 22, found the wreckage while on a walk in the bush. The crash occurred in a very inaccessible area.
Crew:
Travis W. Shortridge, pilot,
Charles I. Dunnell, copilot.
Passengers:
Elsie May Glasgow,
Clyde C. Hood,
Hubert A. Farall,
Julian Margules,
William O’Reilly,
Claire Stokes.

Probable cause:

The aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path due to unfavorable winds. The crew failed to see and avoid the mountain due to low visibility and poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Junkers A.50 in Manly: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1930

Type of aircraft:

Junkers A.50

Operator:

H. J. Barryman

Registration:

VH-UNO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sydney - Sydney

MSN:

3507

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane named 'Wandouree' departed Sydney-Mascot on a local joyride. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in Manly. The pilot Henry Goya Henry was seriously injured and lost a leg and the passenger was killed.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian IV in Tamworth: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1930

Type of aircraft:

Avro 594 Avian

Operator:

J. H. Bettington

Registration:

VH-UKR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tamworth - Tamworth

MSN:

205

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Tamworth for a local flight. The pilot was completing aerobatics when the propeller detached. He lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airfield. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the propeller detached in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth off Gerringong: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1929

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Jesse E. O’Connor

Registration:

VH-UHF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

406

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying off Seven Miles Beach, Gerringong, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the sea. Both occupants Jesse E. O’Connor and Wilbert Berg were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Richmond: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1929

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-12

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Richmond - Richmond

MSN:

551

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAAF Richmond, the aircraft hit trees and crashed. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Second pilot L. L. Colless died a day later.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 near Moss Vale

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1929

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-20

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

601

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, crew was forced to make an emergency landing for unknown reason. Aircraft eventually came to rest in the vicinity of the Burradoo Station, near Moss Vale. Both occupants were unhurt but aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 in Marulan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1929 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Crimson Aircraft

Registration:

G-AUHA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Goulburn - Sydney

MSN:

426

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft arrived at Goulburn at 0800LT and was supposed to continue to Sydney. Weather conditions deteriorated and both occupants, Cpt E. W. Cornish, owner of the aircraft and his pupil, G. K. Wride, were advised by Cpt Matheson, an instructor with the Goulburn Aero Club, not to continue the flight. Nevertheless Cornish elected to carry on and evidently Wride was in control when the aircraft, flying at around 100-150 feet, nose dived onto a stony ridge located 3 miles from Marulan. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Source: Ed Coates.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Cornwallis: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1929

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-8

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Richmond - Richmond

MSN:

541

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After completing a training mission in the region of Richmond Airbase, the pilot Robert F. Sommerville decided to make a low pass over his future father-in-law's property. While flying too low, he hit his future father-in-law who was killed instantly. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field, bursting into flames. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Sgt Sommerville was charged with Manslaughter but was acquitted, and was reduced in rank and grounded. Later he regained flying status.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Mittagong

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1928

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

A7-15

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond - Richmond

MSN:

596

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit a hill near Mittagong and was destroyed by a post impact fire. Both occupants were injured.