Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

De Havilland C-7A Caribou

Damaged beyond repair following structural failure due to fatigue upon landing at Efogi, PNG. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and dismantled.

Boeing 707

The aircraft departed Richmond on a flight to Avalon, carrying five crew members. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet along the coast, the aircraft lost height and plunged in the sea. The wreckage was found about one km off Woodside Beach and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good. Crew: Cpt Mark Lewin, pilot, F/Lt Tim Ellis, copilot, F/Lt Mark Duncan, pilot, W/O Jon Fawcett, flight engineer, W/O Al Gwynne, loadmaster.

Lockheed P-3 Orion

The aircraft was engaged in a local flight and was carrying 17 passengers and a crew of four. After takeoff from Cocos Island Airport, the crew climbed to 5,000 feet then reduced his altitude for a low pass over the airport. Approaching the airport at a speed of 380 knots and at a height of about 300 feet, the pilot-in-command increased engine power in a way to gain height when the aircraft lost several pieces from the left wing. Due to severe vibrations and problems of controllability, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing near the airport. The aircraft struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in shallow water. A passenger was killed after being hit by propeller blades that punctured the fuselage. All 20 other occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

GAF Nomad N.24

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local training flight at Edinburgh AFB. On approach, the tail separated and the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot F/Lt Glenn Kemshall Donovan was killed.

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

The crew was completing a local training flight at Camden Airport. On final approach, the pilot-in-command initiated a go-around when the aircraft stalled and crashed. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

The aircraft was completing a flight from Lae to Port Moresby, carrying three crew members and 26 cadets of the PNG Army. After passing over Wau in good weather conditions, the pilot decided to enter the Kudjeru Gap Valley when the weather conditions worsened rapidly with clouds up to 10,500 feet. At an altitude of 5,000 feet while trying to gain height, the right wing struck trees and the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain, about 50 meters below the summit. The wreckage was found three days later. Five injured passengers were evacuated but one of them died from his injuries.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Belly landed at Townsville Airport for unknown reasons. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Tapini Airstrip on a supply mission. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were injured.

Lockheed P-3 Orion

The crew was completing a local test flight on this new aircraft which should be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force. Upon landing, one of the main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in flames. While all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

While approaching An Th<U+1EDB>i Airfield, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into a river. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were rescued.