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Australia
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Victoria

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

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-31
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
Location:
Point Cook (Melbourne)
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 (Sgt Sommerville) was performing a local training flight at RAAF Point Cook. On final approach, his Moth collided with a RAAF Avro 643 Cadet registered A6-9. Both aircraft crashed and while Sgt Sommerville was killed, the second pilot was injured. Both aircraft wreckage are seen on the photo (A6-9 in the foreground and A7-31 in the background).
Probable cause:
According to RAAF, the Avro Cadet's pilot did not follow approach procedures and safe separation distance.

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

Date & Time: May 16, 1936
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UII
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
895
YOM:
1929
Location:
Melbourne
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 Norman K. Field was performing a local training flight out from Essendon Airport. While cruising at low altitude over East Oakleigh, near Mount Waverley, in the suburb of Melbourne, the single engine aircraft hit telephone wires and a chimney then crashed onto a house, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed while nobody on the ground was hurt.

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

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1935
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
367
YOM:
1927
Location:
Melbourne-Essendon
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 William H. Zacher was taking part to a demonstration flight during an air race held by the Victorian Aero Club. After completing several manoeuvres in the vicinity of the airport with another aircraft, the pilot initiated a last turn to land when the collision occurred between both aircraft. The second one hit with its engine the tail of the Moth that dove into the ground and crashed some 1,5 mile from the Essendon Airport, near Maribyrnong. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot of the second aircraft, Theodore H.B . Allen, was able to make an emergency landing and was uninjured.

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

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1934
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UAG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
244
YOM:
1926
Location:
Ballarat
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 Roy Lovitt departed Melbourne-Essendon Airport on a solo training flight. The airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances near Ballarat. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 594 Avian IV in Melbourne

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Avro 594 Avian
Operator:
J. A. Kerr
Registration:
VH-UJZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
202
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:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Melbourne-Essendon Airport, the airplane collided with power cables and crashed in Footscray. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

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

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UPX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
MSN:
598
YOM:
1928
Location:
Tallarock
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 J. H. Ekins was performing a training flight on behalf of the Civil Aviation Branch of the Department of Defence. He departed Melbourne-Essendon Airport bound for the north. While flying over Tallarock, in the region of Seymour, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed on the ground. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth at RAAF Laverton

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-22
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
603
YOM:
1928
Location:
Laverton AFB (Melbourne)
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission out from RAAF Laverton. On final approach, the aircraft crashed in a field two miles from the airport. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
John W. Paulden
Registration:
VH-UPP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ballan - Geelong
MSN:
355
YOM:
1927
Location:
Geelong
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was being flown by John W. Paulden and Eric Morris. Witnesses stated that the engine seemed to have quit at about 1,000 feet on descent into Belmont Airport at Geelong. The aircraft evidently stalled in from some 200 feet. Paulden and Morris (popularly known as 'Exide Eric', due to his battery business) were killed. C.D. Pratt, tutor of Paulden and Morris, was flying another Moth some 30 feet above them when the accident happened (seems a little close?). Previous owners had reported the tendency for engine failure on this particular machine.

Source: Ed Coates

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

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-6
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Point Cook - Point Cook
MSN:
549
YOM:
1928
Location:
Werribee
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAAF Point Cook for a local training flight. While practicing landing, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both occupants were injured.

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

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A7-10
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Laverton - Laverton
MSN:
543
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:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed about 1,500 metres from RAAF Laverton after striking a haystack and shearing of the undercarriage while performing manoeuvres at low level without authorization. The aircraft crashed a short distance from the haystack and was destroyed. Flying Officer Leo J. Ryan survived the impact and was critically injured and later died of those injuries in Caulfield Repatriation Hospital two days later.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.
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