Tennant Creek - Tennant Creek
Flight / Schedule
Tennant Creek - Tennant Creek
Aircraft
Lockheed L-414 HudsonRegistration
VH-AGE
MSN
414-6039
Year of Manufacture
1941
Date
September 24, 1966 at 09:15 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Topographic
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Tennant Creek Northern Territory
Region
Oceania • Australia
Coordinates
-19.6476°, 134.1898°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On September 24, 1966 at 09:15 AM, Tennant Creek - Tennant Creek experienced a crash involving Lockheed L-414 Hudson, operated by Adastra Airways - Adastra Aerial Surveys, with the event recorded near Tennant Creek Northern Territory.
The flight was categorized as topographic and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
6 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 5, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft had been carrying out magnetometer survey flights from the airport for several weeks. It departed at 06:30 hours local time, reaching the survey area an hour later. At 07:50 the Doppler equipment became unserviceable and a little later light rain was encountered. The survey work was abandoned and the flight returned to Tennant Creek. At 09:14 the crew radioed that they were in the circuit area. Wind was reported to be from 070° at 14 knots. The acknowledgement of this information was the last contact with the flight. A minute later, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a prairie located 2 miles west of the runway 07 threshold.The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six on board were killed, among them a child aged 11. An examination of wreckage showed that one of the duplicated aileron control chains in the pilot's control column was broken in the region of the control wheel sprocket. A link pin had failed and this pin might have subsequently jammed the assembly as the control wheel was being rotated. Control could not be taken over by the copilot, as there was no copilot on the flight. The right hand cockpit seat and rudder pedals were removed so a crew member was able to gain access to the nose area of the aircraft for the survey work.
Aircraft reference details include registration VH-AGE, MSN 414-6039, year of manufacture 1941.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -19.6476°, 134.1898°.
Fatalities
Total
6
Crew
1
Passengers
5
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft had been carrying out magnetometer survey flights from the airport for several weeks. It departed at 06:30 hours local time, reaching the survey area an hour later. At 07:50 the Doppler equipment became unserviceable and a little later light rain was encountered. The survey work was abandoned and the flight returned to Tennant Creek. At 09:14 the crew radioed that they were in the circuit area. Wind was reported to be from 070° at 14 knots. The acknowledgement of this information was the last contact with the flight. A minute later, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a prairie located 2 miles west of the runway 07 threshold.The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six on board were killed, among them a child aged 11. An examination of wreckage showed that one of the duplicated aileron control chains in the pilot's control column was broken in the region of the control wheel sprocket. A link pin had failed and this pin might have subsequently jammed the assembly as the control wheel was being rotated. Control could not be taken over by the copilot, as there was no copilot on the flight. The right hand cockpit seat and rudder pedals were removed so a crew member was able to gain access to the nose area of the aircraft for the survey work.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
1
Passengers On Board
5
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 6
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Tennant Creek - Tennant Creek
Flight Type
Topographic
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Oceania • Australia
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF
Avro 504
The crew was performing a training flight out from Point Cook. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 500 feet, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. One pilot was killed instantly while the second one died few hours later. This was the first accident involving an aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force which was officially founded a week ago on March 31, 1921. Crew: Lt James Fryer-Smith, pilot Cpl Bertie W. Whicker, mechanic.
Western Australia Airways
Bristol Tourer
The crew was performing the inaugural flight from Geraldton to Derby which was considered as the first commercial flight within Australia. On approach to Kalbarri, the aircraft crashed for unknown reasons near the Murchinson River, killing both occupants. Crew: Ted Broad, Bob Fawcett.
O. Ramsay
Avro 504
During the takeoff roll, the pilot swerved the airplane to avoid two boys running across the runway. He lost control of the airplane that crashed near the beach. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there were no casualties.
Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8
En route from Charleville to Longreach, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing in Blackall. While the pilot was uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF
Avro 504
The pilot was performing a night training flight at Point Cook Airport. On final approach, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed near the airport. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.