Country
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Western Australia

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator off Broome: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1942 at 0923 LT
Operator:
Registration:
40-2374
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Broome – Kupang
MSN:
6
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Broome Airport, while climbing at a height of some 600 feet, the four engine airplane was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed into the Bay of Broome, 10 km offshore. Upon impact, the airplane broke in two, both wings separated and the fuselage sank within three minutes. Two passengers (Sgt Donoho and Sgt Beatty) were able to swim to shore and were rescued. Unfortunately, Sgt Beatty died the next day from injuries sustained. Thus Sgt Donoho was the only survivor. All passengers were US soldiers joining their base in Indonesia.
Crew:
Maj Edson Eugene Kester, pilot,
Cpt William Ragsdale Jr., copilot.
Passengers:
Sgt Melvin O. Donoho,
Sgt Willard J. Beatty,
Cpt Charles A. Stafford,
Keats Poad,
2nd Lt Richard L. Taylor,
S/Sgt Howard C. Cliff,
S/Sgt John M. Rex,
S/Sgt Elvin P. Westcott,
Sgt Samuel F. Foster,
Cpl Jack T. Taylor,
Pvt Richard G. Sheetz,
2nd Lt Howard K. Petschel,
Cpt Charles A. Stafford,
Cpt Harry W. Markey,
Pvt Joseph N. Gordon,
Pfc Nicholas D. Bunardzya,
Pvt Clarence B. Johnson,
S/Sgt Leo D. Steinmetz,
Cpl Hubert McDonald.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper near Mungalalu-Truscott AFB

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-20066
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Perth – Broome – Darwin
MSN:
4836
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Perth to Darwin with an intermediate stop in Broome. At night, the crew overflew Broome as he was unable to locate the airport. He continued to the northeast until the fuel tanks were empty. Due to a fuel exhaustion, the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field located 10 km southwest of Mungalalu-Truscott AFB, some 383 miles northeast of Broome. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site, and all six occupants were rescued few days later.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ray Van Diver, pilot,
Mel Lewis, copilot,
Sgt Buck Lambert, flight engineer,
Cpl Mal Scharp, radio operator.
Passengers:
David Campbell,
Jack Lyons.
Photos: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/c-53/41-20066.html
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2 in Broome

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Broome – Perth
MSN:
6106
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Broome Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a field located 5 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I in Broome

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-83
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
414-1937
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed and burned on take off at Broome Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire while all four occupants were unhurt.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/L J. Sharp +3.
Probable cause:
Braking binding.

Crash of a Simmonds Spartan Gipsy II in Mundaring Weir

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Perth – Adelaide
MSN:
63
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While overflying a hilly and wooded area, the pilot encountered downdraft and was unable to maintain control of the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to severe downdraft.

Crash of a General Aircraft ST-25 Monospar Jubilee in Mount Sir Samuel

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1936 at 1800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UVJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Agnew – Wiluna
MSN:
60
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after takeoff from Agnew, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft contacted trees and crash landed. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants evacuated safely, among them the pilot Charles Snook.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Ord River: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UNX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Adelaide – Ord River
MSN:
1400
YOM:
1930
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing in Ord River for unknown circumstances. While the passenger was killed, the pilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50 in Mia Mia Station

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UMC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Carnarvon – Broome
MSN:
74
YOM:
1929
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Carnarvon to Broome, weather conditions worsened and crew decided to divert to Mia Mia Station. Upon landing, the airplane hit violently the runway surface, causing the propeller to be torn off. The blades went trough the cabin and the aircraft came to rest. As the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all three passengers were injured and both crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Vickers 198 Viastra II in Perth

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UOM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Perth – Kalgoorlie – Adelaide
MSN:
2
YOM:
1931
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, a propeller blade on the left engine detached and impacted the fuselage, damaging control cables and hitting a passenger. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in Redcliffe, near the airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 12 occupants evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Loss of a propeller blade on the left engine shortly after takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UFK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Perth - Perth
MSN:
279
YOM:
1926
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a local solo training flight at Perth-Maylands Airport. For unknown reasons, he missed the approach and the single engine aircraft hit violently the ground upon landing. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was injured.