CRASH LANDING OF A BEAUFORT
AT MALLACOOTA, VIC
ON 27 DECEMBER 1944

On 27 December 1944, Beaufort A9-178 of 1 OTU proceed to Mallacoota Airfield to refuel prior to carrying out an operational patrol. The pilot held off a little too high and made a slightly heavy landing on three points at 1735 hours on 27 December 1944 whilst loaded with 1,500 lb bombs. After running for 50 yards, the Beaufort commenced to swing to port, and the pilot over corrected with the brake swinging the aircraft some 15 yards from the right hand side of the runway. A further attempt was made to straighten the aircraft with the brake failed, and the pilot opened the throttle of the starboard engine in an attempt to ground loop the aircraft to avoid crashing into the petrol dump. During the ground loop both legs of the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft turned through 180 degrees. The port engine burst into flames as the Beaufort came to rest.

The Crew were uninjured:-

F/O Edward Charles Clarke (415400) - Pilot
P/O Donald Alister Allan  (035482) - 2nd Pilot
F/O Desmond Charles West (418601) - Navigator
F/O James Oliver Jenkins (410119) - W/T Operator

The following damage was sustained to the aircraft:-

Fuselage Front    90% "S"
Fuselage Rear     70% "R"
Port Mainplane     15% "R"
Stbd. Mainplane    80% "S"
Centre Section      80% "S"
Instruments           2% "M"
Undercarriage       60% "R"
Airscrews              50% "R"

The following comment appears on the Aircraft Accident Data card:-

"This accident might have been avoided entirely had a petrol dump not been placed in such close proximity to the runway."

The cause of the accident was attributed to poor technique and error of judgment on the part of the pilot 80%, and 20% error in that petrol drums were stacked too close to the runway forcing the pilot to ground loop the aircraft to avoid them.

The aircraft was converted to components in March 1945.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Mark Hill for his assistance with this web page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 30 January 2019

This page last updated 03 February 2020