Perth – Geraldton – Carnarvon – Port Hedland

On June 24, 1945 at 10:30 AM, Perth – Geraldton – Carnarvon – Port Hedland experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.86 Express, operated by MacRobertson Miller Airlines, with the event recorded near Geraldton Western Australia.

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

11 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 9 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 18.2%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 9, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. This was its inaugural MMA service, from Perth to Geraldton and Carnarvon. After refueling at Geraldton, the takeoff appeared normal but the aircraft did not climb and turned back for a landing. It flew low over RAAF hangars at about 300 feet then made a steep turn to port, followed by a wide low circuit back to the runway with port wing low. When just inside the aerodrome boundary, it dropped heavily on the starboard main undercarriage, bounced, contacted the ground with the tail wheel and bounced again. Striking the ground for the third time, this time on the port main wheel, as it bounced higher, engine power was applied but the aircraft swung to the left, banking steeply until the left wings were torn off by ground contact. The aircraft cartwheeled and hit the ground nose-first. The fuselage broke up, spilling out most of the 11 occupants. Captain Branch and one passenger were killed, the other 9 occupants seriously injured. Crew: H. J. Branch, pilot, Don W. Rumney, copilot. Source: http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh86/dh86.html

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-USF, MSN 2310, year of manufacture 0.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -28.7678°, 114.6188°.