Country
Australia
code

Victoria

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-232A in Melbourne

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ACB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane
MSN:
2030
YOM:
1938
Location:
Melbourne
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain decided to make an emergency landing and completed a gear-up landing 7 km north of the airport. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest and was damaged beyond repair. All 15 occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was christened 'Warana'.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by carburetor problems.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-171 in Mallacoota

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1942 at 1101 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
A30-10
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1372
YOM:
1935
Location:
Mallacoota
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while climbing, the right engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed, injuring all six occupants.
Crew (36th Squadron):
F/O J. L. Whiteman, pilot,
P/O F. J. Ball, pilot.
Passengers:
Sgt A. J. Scott,
LAC J. Varderway,
LAC R. L. Vance,
Cpl Greenhill.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine on take off.

Crash of a Junkers G.31go in Laverton

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Junkers G.31
Operator:
Registration:
A44-1
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
3010
YOM:
1928
Location:
Laverton AFB (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three-engine aircraft was recently transferred to Laverton Airport for repairs, following technical problems on the central engine. The pilot P/O Peter Lavarack decided to perform a test flight and started the take off run with only left and right engine running. Unfortunately, the aircraft veered off runway and collided with the visiting Minister of Air's car. While the pilot was unhurt, both car and aircraft were damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Bairnsdale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1942 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-38
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale
MSN:
414-1889
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bairnsdale
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
915
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight at Bairnsdale Aerodrome following the 80 flying hours service. When pulling out of high speed shallow dive at 80 feet and some 200 yards down from the camera (the flight was filmed), the starboard wing failed at wing station # 144, causing part of the outer wing (3 feet from engine) and spar to separate from the aircraft. The aircraft then rolled inverted, causing a further failure of the tail plane, with the aircraft then crashing into the ground and exploding.
Crew (1st OTU):
S/L P. C. Tampion,
Cpl H. P. Smith,
LAC A. P. Thomas,
LAC N. L. Cheshire.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/
Photos: Gordon Birkett
Probable cause:
The starboard wing panel was sent to the CSIR for metallurgy inspection. The finding was that the mainplanes had been repaired per then accepted practices, but had failed in flight where numerous patched repairs were made during its overhaul at 5AD. The report stated that many Hudsons withdrawn from operational service and used in 1 OTU had been flown to the limits with resultant heavy loadings on their wings on operational service. All similar houred Hudsons were inspected some found to have similar problems, which would result in their replacement by GAF Beauforts in the near future in operational squadrons.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Laverton AFB

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1942 at 1533 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-224
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
414-6471
YOM:
1942
Location:
Laverton AFB (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Laverton AFB, in initial climb, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All five crew members were injured, two of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
P/O H. C. McDonald,
Sgt B. R. Coulter,
Sgt J. H. Brocks,
Sgt R. G. Curtis.
Passenger:
S/Sgt D. M. Cowan.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Bairnsdale: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1942 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-89
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-193
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bairnsdale
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission to Bairnsdale. While completing the approach circuit, at a height of 2,000 feet to join the glide path, the twin engine aircraft pitch down up to 35°, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 7 miles southeast of the airport. Both crew members were killed.
Crew (1st OTU):
P/O A. G. Gray,
AC1 D. M. O'Loughlin.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near Sale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1942 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-39
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bairnsdale - Bairnsdale
MSN:
414-1890
YOM:
1940
Location:
Sale
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total hours on type:
102.00
Circumstances:
The crew left Bairnsdale Airfield in the afternoon with two others RAAF Lockheed Hudson on a reconnaissance mission. At 1614LT, ground instructed all crew to return to the airbase due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. The crew of A16-39 followed another route for undetermined reason. Both other Hudson landed without further incident while A16-39 crashed 500 yards from a private house located in Longpoint, near Sale. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (7th Squadron):
S/L James W. McGilvray, pilot,
Sgt M. J. Gawith, observer,
Sgt F. R. Walton, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt E. W. Bayley, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
The right engine failed in flight following unknown mechanical problems.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Torbreck: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-4
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Point Cook – Pearce – Camden
MSN:
970
YOM:
1936
Flight number:
8BNA
Location:
Eildon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAAF Point Cook at 1145LT on a flight to Camden with an intermediate stop at RAAF Pearce. While flying south of Eildon in foggy conditions, the pilot failed to realize that his altitude was insufficient. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Torbreck located northeast of Melbourne and was destroyed by impact forces. All rescue operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft was found. Eventually, the wreckage was located on 24 January 1941, no more than 200 feet below the summit. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/O Anthony Ashby Daniel,
Cpl Ivan Lapen Stowdor,
Cpl Francis Ettiene Hyland,
Cpl Herman Fred Sass.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Point Cook: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1939 at 1135 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-62
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
1355
YOM:
1929
Location:
Point Cook (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Point Cook Airbase, while climbing, a wing failed. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 3 km from the airport. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (1st FTS):
F/O R. T. Vincent,
P/O J. R. Whitford.
Probable cause:
Structure failure on a wing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Melbourne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UHS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
880
YOM:
1929
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft, owned by Australian National Airways, was piloted by Gertrude McKenzie who was taking boys from the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage for joy flights. While preparing for take off, the aircraft collided with another De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth. Registered VH-UHS, it was owned by the Royal Victorian Aero Club and piloted by Florence Wurts who was also taking boys from the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage for joy flights. Both aircraft suffered an extensive fire and were destroyed. While both occupants of VH-UNP were slightly injured, the pilot of VH-UHS, Miss Florence Wurts was killed and the young passenger was injured.
Probable cause:
The exact causes and circumstances of the collision remain unknown.
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