Port Moresby – Tapini

On October 2, 1949 at 12:00 AM, Port Moresby – Tapini experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth, operated by Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, with the event recorded near Tapini Central.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The single engine airplane was performing a flight from Port Moresby with three passengers, one pilot and two sacks of rice. Upon landing, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft veered off runway and eventually collided with an embankment. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was not repaired and considered as damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the pilot was normally on DC-3's and that his experience on DH.83 Fox Moth was negligible. Apparently, the aircraft encountered katabatic winds on landing.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-UZD, MSN 4040, year of manufacture 1933.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -8.3574°, 146.9908°.