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Australia
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Tasmania

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Yarra Creek

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Pan-Air
Registration:
VH-PAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
King Island - Wynyard
MSN:
227
YOM:
1969
Location:
Yarra Creek (King Island)
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed King Island-Currie Airport on a cargo flight to Wynyard-Burnie Airport, carrying one pilot and a load of meat. Weather conditions worsened and the pilot was unable to locate the destination airport so he decided to divert to Devonport Airfield. Unfortunately, the visibility was too low and he eventually decided to return to King Island. While approaching the coast, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a prairie located in Yarra Creek, on the east coast of the island. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Hamilton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1974 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BSY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
MSN:
1563
YOM:
1964
Location:
Hamilton
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2804
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a local spraying mission in the region of Hamilton, Tasmania. While cruising at an altitude of 500 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn and descended till 50 feet when the airplane struck power cables. On impact, the left wing was torn off and the aircraft crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a power line was installed few days prior to the accident and apparently, the pilot was not aware of it. The crew has been briefed before flight but the chief pilots failed to inform the crew of the presence of the power line as he was convinced the crew was already aware of its presence.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHA-3 Drover 3 on Trefoil Island

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1973
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover
Operator:
Air-Rep Service
Registration:
VH-FDS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Smithton - Trefoil Island
MSN:
5007
Location:
Trefoil Island
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing on a grassy runway on Trefoil Island, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Launceston

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
VH-FNH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne – Launceston – Hobart
MSN:
10180
YOM:
1961
Location:
Launceston
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
7500
Aircraft flight cycles:
8011
Circumstances:
To avoid turbulence over the mountain area near Launceston, the cruising level was maintained prior to entry into the airport circuit pattern. Just prior to turning for finals, trouble was experienced in the pitch-lock mechanism of the no. 1 prop. The prop was feathered and the approach was continued with full flaps, but without immediately increasing power on the remaining engine. The high rate of descent was not arrested during the turn, resulting in a slightly low altitude. Power was added and speed reduced to control the descent rate, but the crew were unable to maintain runway heading. An overshoot was attempted, but the speed had dropped below minimum control speed. The left wing dropped as full power was applied to the no. 2 engine. The wing struck the ground and the aircraft crashed, coming to rest 740 feet abeam the runway threshold. Fuel tanks ruptured and caused a fire, which was quickly extinguished. All 23 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Hobart: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1956 at 0340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BZA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Melbourne – Hobart
MSN:
4651
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Melbourne to Hobart, carrying a load of refrigeration equipment. While descending to Hobart, the crew passed through the clouds at 2,000 feet then completed a turn over the Frederick Henry Bay when the aircraft crashed into the bay about 13 km from the runway 30 threshold. The captain Peter Kemp was rescued while the copilot Alan Jay was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot relied on inadequate external visual reference for determining the altitude and paid insufficient attention to the instruments. The irregular approach procedure carried out by the pilot in command deprived him of the opportunity to monitor the safe approach to the aerodrome through the correlation of time, height and position. This probably contributed to the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK off Hobart: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1951 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TAT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
13083
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Hobart Airport, while in initial climb, the crew started a turn at low height when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Barilla Bay, less than 3 km from the airfield. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of lateral control during a turn at low altitude soon after takeoff was probably caused by the presence of ice on the aircraft surface.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Hobart: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1946 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AET
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hobart – Melbourne
MSN:
6013
YOM:
1942
Location:
Hobart
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Aircraft flight hours:
7477
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Hobart-Cambridge Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Derwent estuary, near the Seven Mile Beach. The aircraft was destroyed and no survivor was found among the 25 occupants.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the captain inadvertently switched on the autopilot system in lieu of the fuel cross feed system. A forward movement on the control column was then noted and the aircraft plunged into the sea. At the time of the accident, the capacities and the performances of the captain were considered as reduced because he suffered of diabetes and was under influence of insulin, which could be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Wynyard

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UXT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne – Wynyard
MSN:
6346
YOM:
1937
Location:
Wynyard
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Wynyard Airport, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a ditch before coming to rest. While all four occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Cpt F. H. Dawson.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I off Flinders Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-18
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bairnsdale – Whitemark
MSN:
414-1869
YOM:
1940
Location:
Whitemark (Flinders Island)
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Bairnsdale to Whitemark (Flinders Island), the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. SAR mission was conducted but evetually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. 18 RAAF aircraft took part of the SAR operation.
Crew (1st OTU):
P/O Edward R. Deacon,
Sgt Albert F. Manning,
Sgt Cecil H. Andrews,
Sgt William Anderson.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Whitemark

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-17
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Whitemark (Flinders Island)
Tasmania
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing near the Whitemark Airfield. While all four occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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