Country
Australia
code

Victoria

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

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1939
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UNP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
1407
YOM:
1930
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Elwood: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-11
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
977
YOM:
1936
Location:
Melbourne
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight following recent modification on the communication systems. While returning to his base at Laverton, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog and reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft impacted the water surface and crashed into the Port Phillip Bay off Elwood, south of Melbourne. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ronald Davies,
Cpl Gordon Peake,
AC1 John Quinn.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in foggy conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Point Cook: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-68
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
1361
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:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a local training at Point Cook Airport. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. One of the pilot later died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
P/O P. McDonough, instructor pilot, †
J. Costello, student pilot.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-210 in Mont Dandenong: 18 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1938 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UYC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Adelaide – Melbourne
MSN:
1566
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mont Dandenong
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
While descending to Melbourne, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to locate the airport of Essendon. The pilot continued the descent and the aircraft named 'Kyeema' went through a thick layer of cloud when it impacted trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located in Mont Dandenong, some 40 km east of Essendon Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 18 occupants were killed.
Crew:
A. C. Webb, pilot,
A. J. Steen, copilot,
Phillip Pring, pilot, acting as radio operator,
Elva Jones, stewardess,
Probable cause:
The following deficiencies were identified as contributing to the accident:
1) The aircraft’s navigational log was either not kept or had not been properly utilized during the latter part of the flight, as required by the carrier;
2) The company’s procedure for descent through an overcast into this airport was not adopted, and
3) A request for a bearing from the aircraft was not received by the radio operator at the airport nor logged at any other operating station. Also noted in the investigative report was the lack in Australia of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) beacon network, and indeed, the crash of VH-UYC would prove pivotal in the development of the nation’s airway system.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Dromana: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1938 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-29
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1024
YOM:
1937
Location:
Dromana
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training exercise. En route, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to low clouds. The twin engine airplane impacted the slope of hilly and wooded terrain and was partially destroyed. Four crew members were killed while a fifth occupant was injured.
Crew:
Sgt John Gillespie, †
P/O Robert Symmonds, †
AC1 Kenneth McKerrow, †
AC1 Robert Mawson, †
AC1 James Glover.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Ballarat

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UPU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
545
YOM:
1928
Location:
Ballarat
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
2800
Circumstances:
While overflying the city of Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collide with a fence and crashed. Both occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The engine failure was caused by the presence of water in the carburetor.

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

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UNU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
1444
YOM:
1930
Location:
Somerton
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a local solo training flight out from Melbourne-Essendon Airport. While making sharp turns exercises, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in Somerton, 10 km northeast of Essendon Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

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

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
A3-2
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
6314
YOM:
1935
Location:
Laverton AFB (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (two student pilots and one instructor) were conducting a local training mission out from RAAF Laverton in Melbourne. On final approach, while completing a last turn at low height to join the runway, the aircraft impacted the ground with one of its wing, cartwheeled and crashed. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
F/O D. McLean, pilot,
A.C. McLean, wireless operator,
LAC G. A. Everingham.
Probable cause:
Insufficient altitude during the last turn on approach.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Malvern

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1937 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ULH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Benalla – Melbourne
MSN:
Genairco 7
Location:
Melbourne
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being flown by Jack Macalister who was attempting a night landing at Essendon Airport, Melbourne. Due to heavy fog, he flew over the city looking for an alternate landing ground. Attempting to land at the Malvern Oval, he struck the spire of St. George's Anglican church and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth in Melbourne

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-AUL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
246
YOM:
1926
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Essendon Airport, the single engine aircraft clipped a tree and crashed 3 miles east of the airport, near a golf course. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Subscribe to Victoria