Crash of a Tiger Moth at Stock Route Airfield, Townsville, Queensland on 24 February 1943

CRASH OF A TIGER MOTH
AT STOCK ROUTE AIRFIELD
TOWNSVILLE, QLD
ON 24 FEBRUARY 1943

At approximately 1705 hours E.A.S.T. on 24 February 1943, Tiger Moth A17-604 of 36 Squadron RAAF force landed at the Stock Route Airfield in Townsville, north Queensland after an engine failure at 200 feet after taking off for a test flight. After the engine stopped, the pilot hurriedly checked switches and petrol cocks which were all correct. He could not make it back to the airfield, but headed for a patch beside the airfield which had a lot of trees and was boggy after the recent heavy rain. The pilot did a side slipping turn between the trees and did a good landing but because of the water and and nature of the ground, the aircraft tilted over on its nose when the wheels bogged whilst doing about 10 miles per hour.

The aircraft was extensively damaged. Investigations after the crash revealed that there was water present in the fuel. Apparently there had been heavy rain in recent times and the aircraft had been parked out in the open due to the lack of any hangars.

The crew were uninjured as follows:-