Country
Australia
code

Northern Territory

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S in Cresswell Downs

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C18S
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CLG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4213
YOM:
1942
Location:
Cresswell Downs
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Cresswell Downs Airstrip, the right wheel separated from its axle and rolled away. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair. Among the passengers were two additional pilots on a positioning flight.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right wheel on landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron in Timor Sea: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1960 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
CR-TAI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Darwin – Baucau
MSN:
14132
YOM:
1959
Location:
Bathurst Island
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Darwin Airport at 1133LT on a charter flight to Baucau. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and about half an hour later, he was in contact with the crew of a TAT Heron registered CR-TAG. This was the last communication with the crew as shortly later, the airplane crashed into the sea off Bathurst Island. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was concluded that the most likely chief cause of the accident lay in the fact that the pilot was flying the aircraft in bad visibility conditions for which he was not duly qualified, and it was presumed that reasons of a psychological nature accounted for the accident.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Katherine

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1957
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Muir Airlines
Registration:
VH-DMA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Katherine – Darwin
MSN:
6029
YOM:
1933
Location:
Katherine
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft turned to the right but failed to climb and after travelling some 8 miles was landed in an open field and overturned. All three occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Probably the amount and distribution of load reduced the performance capacity such that the aircraft could not reach a safe maneuvering height.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Daly Waters

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-75
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Amberley – Daly Waters – Darwin
MSN:
15919/32667
YOM:
1945
Location:
Daly Waters
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no injuries.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson in King Leopold Ranges: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1956 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VH-MMG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tablelands – Derby
Location:
King Leopold Ranges
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing an ambulance flight from Tablelands to Derby, carrying a young ill child, his father, two nurses and one pilot on behalf of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the pilot encountered thunderstorm activity with turbulences when control was lost. The aircraft crashed on the Hawkstone Peak located in the King Leopold Ranges. As the airplane failed to arrive in Derby, SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found three weeks later only. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Pieter van Emmerick.
Passengers:
Sister Frances Day, nurse,
Sister Helen Newman, nurse,
one patient and his father.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.95 Hastings C.3 in Darwin

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
NZ5804
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Darwin – Singapore
MSN:
150
YOM:
1953
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Darwin Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft suffered a bird strike. As an engine lost power, the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. All 25 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a bird strike after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Coolibah: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1949 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UZY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wyndham – Coolibah – Tennant Creek
MSN:
6384
YOM:
1937
Flight number:
CK1203
Location:
Coolibah
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot George C. 'Colin' Johnston was performing a flight from Wyndham to Tennant Creek with an intermediate stop in Coolibah, NT. The twin engine aircraft landed at 1210LT and some mail was delivered to the pilot who took off at 1300LT. Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was probably the result of severe turbulences and reduced performance due to a high density altitude.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Darwin

Date & Time: May 9, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
New Holland Airways
Registration:
VH-AEN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1259
YOM:
1934
Location:
Darwin
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Daly Waters

Date & Time: May 6, 1948 at 1321 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BKM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Daly Waters – Alice Springs
MSN:
6543
YOM:
1941
Location:
Daly Waters
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed one minute after its takeoff from Daly Waters while performing a delivery flight to Alice Springs with two crew and two ladies as passengers on board. After takeoff, during the initial climb, while at an altitude of 150 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain elected to make an emergency landing in a prairie but at the last moment, the left engine regained power. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Gimbat Station

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
Q-12
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sydney – Jakarta
MSN:
13210
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gimbat Station
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the twin engine aircraft was hot by lightning. The electric systems failed and radio and navigation failed. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a uninhabited area and was damaged beyond repair. All six crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Hit by lightning.
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