Darwin – Katherine – Adelaide

On January 18, 1939 at 07:50 AM, Darwin – Katherine – Adelaide experienced a crash involving Lockheed 14 Super Electra, operated by Guinea Airways, with the event recorded near Katherine Northern Territory.

The flight was categorized as postal (mail) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was carrying a load of 700 pounds of mail from Darwin to Adelaide with an intermediate stop in Katherine. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered problem to gain height. It eventually stalled and crashed in the Katherine River located near the airport and came to rest in 6 feet of water. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed. Crew: J. A. Jukes, pilot, C. R. Clarke, pilot, P. I. Donegan, copilot and flight engineer. Passenger: A. McDonald, Chief Inspector of Aerodromes in the Northern Territory.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-ABI, MSN 1418, year of manufacture 1938.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -14.4625°, 132.2583°.