Wau – Bulolo – Lae
Flight / Schedule
Wau – Bulolo – Lae
Aircraft
De Havilland Australia DHA-3 DroverRegistration
VH-EBQ
MSN
5003
Year of Manufacture
31
Date
July 16, 1951 at 09:07 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Lae Morobe
Region
Oceania • Papua New Guinea
Coordinates
-6.6698°, 146.9968°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On July 16, 1951 at 09:07 AM, Wau – Bulolo – Lae experienced a crash involving De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover, operated by Qantas Airways - Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, with the event recorded near Lae Morobe.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The three engine aircraft left Bulolo at 0835LT bound for Lae. 31 minutes later, while approaching Lae Airport, the pilot informed ground about his position over the mouth of Markham River. While flying in a visibility of two miles due to rain falls, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in to the Huon Gulf, about four miles south of Lae Airport. Some debris were found around noon and all seven occupants were killed, among them the pilot Captain J. W. Spiers. Source: http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/drover/drover.htm
Aircraft reference details include registration VH-EBQ, MSN 5003, year of manufacture 31.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -6.6698°, 146.9968°.
Fatalities
Total
7
Crew
1
Passengers
6
Other
0
Crash Summary
The three engine aircraft left Bulolo at 0835LT bound for Lae. 31 minutes later, while approaching Lae Airport, the pilot informed ground about his position over the mouth of Markham River. While flying in a visibility of two miles due to rain falls, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in to the Huon Gulf, about four miles south of Lae Airport. Some debris were found around noon and all seven occupants were killed, among them the pilot Captain J. W. Spiers. Source: http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/drover/drover.htm
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
1
Passengers On Board
6
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 7
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Wau – Bulolo – Lae
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Oceania • Papua New Guinea