Narrative:
The C-47 transport plane departed Nadzab on a medevac flight to Milne Bay carrying 18 patients and 3 Medical Attendants. Whilst over Dobodura the crew received radio reports that Milne Bay Airfield was not in service, probably due to poor weather conditions.
The crew wanted to divert to Port Moresby. En route the left engine failed. It then appeared that both Jacksons and Wards fields could not be reached due to low ceiling and rain. The airplane then diverted to the emergency airfield on Fisherman's Island.
A belly landing was carried out along the strip. There was no fire and all aboard survived.
Technical investigation revealed that the left engine had just been replaced and this was the first-flight since the work was done. For the lack of a single cotter-pin and some safety wire in the throttle-linkage, this aircraft ended up crash-landing.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Saturday 10 June 1944 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-65-DL (DC-3) |
| Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 42-100628 |
| MSN: | 19091 |
| First flight: | 1943 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 21 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Fisherman's Island, near Port Moresby ( Papua New Guinea)
|
| Phase: | Unknown (UNK) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Lae-Nadzab Airport (LAE/AYNZ), Papua New Guinea |
| ? |
The C-47 transport plane departed Nadzab on a medevac flight to Milne Bay carrying 18 patients and 3 Medical Attendants. Whilst over Dobodura the crew received radio reports that Milne Bay Airfield was not in service, probably due to poor weather conditions.
The crew wanted to divert to Port Moresby. En route the left engine failed. It then appeared that both Jacksons and Wards fields could not be reached due to low ceiling and rain. The airplane then diverted to the emergency airfield on Fisherman's Island.
A belly landing was carried out along the strip. There was no fire and all aboard survived.
Probable Cause:
Technical investigation revealed that the left engine had just been replaced and this was the first-flight since the work was done. For the lack of a single cotter-pin and some safety wire in the throttle-linkage, this aircraft ended up crash-landing.
Sources:
» The Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3 - the first seventy years / J.M. GradidgePhotos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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