Darwin – Adelaide

On December 18, 1939 at 05:40 AM, Darwin – Adelaide experienced a crash involving Lockheed 10 Electra, operated by Guinea Airways, with the event recorded near Darwin Northern Territory.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

12 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 12 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft christened 'Moresby' left Darwin Airport at 0535LT bound for Adelaide with ten soldiers and two crew on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force. Five minutes after take off, the right engine fired and the crew decided to return to Darwin. On final approach, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing when in low visibility, the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in flames in a prairie. While all twelve occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-UXI, MSN 1105, year of manufacture 1937.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -12.4124°, 130.8357°.