Luganville – Honiara

Took off at 0600LT from Luganville on a flight to Honiara. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The last radio contact was heard at 0855LT when the aircraft was overflying the south part of the Guadalcanal Island. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and its wreckage was found a day later. All five crewmen were killed. Crew (1st Squadron): F/O Selwyn Houghton, pilot, W/O Joseph Crisp, W/O Geoffrey Robins, W/O Albert Douglas, F/Sgt Francis Larnach.

Flight / Schedule

Luganville – Honiara

Registration

NZ4575

MSN

6139

Date

October 10, 1944 at 08:55 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Guadalcanal Island All Solomon Islands

Region

Oceania • Solomon Islands

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On October 10, 1944 at 08:55 AM, Luganville – Honiara experienced a crash involving Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, operated by Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF, with the event recorded near Guadalcanal Island All Solomon Islands.

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

5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Took off at 0600LT from Luganville on a flight to Honiara. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The last radio contact was heard at 0855LT when the aircraft was overflying the south part of the Guadalcanal Island. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and its wreckage was found a day later. All five crewmen were killed. Crew (1st Squadron): F/O Selwyn Houghton, pilot, W/O Joseph Crisp, W/O Geoffrey Robins, W/O Albert Douglas, F/Sgt Francis Larnach.

Aircraft reference details include registration NZ4575, MSN 6139.

Fatalities

Total

5

Crew

5

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

Took off at 0600LT from Luganville on a flight to Honiara. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The last radio contact was heard at 0855LT when the aircraft was overflying the south part of the Guadalcanal Island. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and its wreckage was found a day later. All five crewmen were killed. Crew (1st Squadron): F/O Selwyn Houghton, pilot, W/O Joseph Crisp, W/O Geoffrey Robins, W/O Albert Douglas, F/Sgt Francis Larnach.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Luganville – Honiara

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Oceania • Solomon Islands

Aircraft Details

Registration

NZ4575

MSN

6139

Similar Plane Crashes

June 15, 1940 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The crew was performing a training flight and left in the morning the Wigram AFB. After completing an artillery exercise in Birdlings Flat, the crew continued his route to Akaroa. Pilot made a low pass over the main street followed by a steep turn during which the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near houses. Both crew were killed while two people on the ground were seriously injured.

June 21, 1940 at 07:25 AM1 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The crew, two students and an instructor, was performing a training flight. After departure from Dunedin-Taieri Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft did not gain sufficient altitude. The pilot made a sharp turn to avoid trees when the aircraft stalled and crashed. A crew was killed while both others were seriously injured. Crew (1st SFTS): S/L Kitson, instructor, † P/O P. McNab, AC1 R. Kilpatrick.

July 22, 1940 at 09:15 AM4 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The crew was performing a training flight and left Wigram AFB in early morning. While flying in the Kaituna Valley, south of Christchurch, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and was destroyed, killing all four crew members. Crew (1st SFTS): P/O William Krogh, LAC Archibald Hull, LAC Herbert von Tunzelman, AC1 Albert Duffell.

August 7, 1940 at 10:45 PM1 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The pilot was involved in a training mission. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. The pilot made a sharp turn during which the aircraft stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed. Crew (2nd SFTS): LAC Thomas Denbee.

September 30, 1940 at 12:00 AM3 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area and SAR did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew. In March 1941, walkers found the wreckage in an isolated zone. According to the RNZAF, the aircraft have been built in Ohakea and was on its way to be delivered in Hobsonville Airport.

November 14, 1940 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The pilot was performing a night solo training exercise. While cruising south of Palmerston North, he did not realize he was flying too low due to poor visibility. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill and crashed. The pilot was killed. Crew: P/O Thomas Kirk, pilot.