Port Moresby - Townsville

On November 26, 1943 at 04:15 AM, Port Moresby - Townsville experienced a crash involving Lockheed 18 LodeStar, operated by Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, with the event recorded near Port Moresby National Capital District.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.

15 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 11, passenger fatalities: 11, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft left Port Moresby-Wards Airport in early morning and completed the initial climb in poor visibility. After few minutes, it hit the slope of a mountain located 13 km west of the airport and was destroyed by impact forces. All 15 occupants were killed. Qantas, the Australian National career, was performing this flight on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force and all passengers were US and RAAF soldiers and officers. By date, this crash is considered as the worst accident for Qantas since its foundation. Crew: S/L William Geoffrey Campbell, pilot, P/O John Randolph Fleming Henderson, copilot, F/Sgt Neil Grosvenor Evan, radio operator, P/O Keith George Shankland Little, purser. Passengers: Robert E. Lewis, Harry H. Poague, Lt Col C. V. Ferry, Lt Col Edward John Marston, Maj J. F. McCarthy, Lt Col John Benedict Bolger, 2nd Lt John E. Brown, S/Sgt Vincent W. Novak, Cpt John W. Baish, Col Frank O. Dewey, F/Sgt Leslie Harold Jenke.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-CAB, MSN 2103, year of manufacture 1941.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -9.4100°, 147.1734°.