Status:
Date:	24 MAY 1961
Time:	ca 04:35
Type:	Douglas DC-4-1009
Operator:	Trans Australia Airlines - TAA
Registration:	VH-TAA
C/n / msn:	43065
First flight:	1946
Total airframe hrs:	46006
Crew:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Bulwer Island, QLD (Australia)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Sydney-Kingsford Smith International Airport, NSW (SYD/YSSY), Australia
Destination airport:	Brisbane International Airport, QLD (BNE/YBBN), Australia
Flightnumber:	1902

Narrative:
Flight 1902, a cargo flight from Sydney to Brisbane, took off at 02:29. The flight crew reported 30 miles south of the airport and were given landing information. At 04:34 they reported the field in sight. The DC-4 didn't arrive at Brisbane and was later found to have crashed on Bulwer Island in a tidal covered mangrove-covered mud flat.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident occurred during the pre-landing circuit when the captain tried to leave his seat under the influence of a disordered cardiac function and, in the course of so doing, collapsed across the engine control console in such a way as to bring all four throttle levers to the closed position depriving the first officer of the throttle movement necessary to avoid a crash-landing off the airport."

Sources: