Incident Overview
Date: Friday 6 November 1942
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-5-511
Owner/operator: Allied Directorate of Air Transport – ADAT
Registration Number: VHCXB
Location: Lurnea Siding Airstrip, QLD –
ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 22
Component Affected: Airframe ? specifically the engine and undercarriage strut.Airframe ? specifically the engine and undercarriage strut.
Category: Accident
A DC-5 transport plane carrying 20 U.S. servicemen to Brisbane experienced a catastrophic engine failure during a climb, leading to a forced landing. A significant anthill struck the airframe at high speed, resulting in substantial damage to the undercarriage strut. The landing was successful, but the impact caused damage to the aircraft.A DC-5 transport plane carrying 20 U.S. servicemen to Brisbane experienced a catastrophic engine failure during a climb, leading to a forced landing. A significant anthill struck the airframe at high speed, resulting in substantial damage to the undercarriage strut. The landing was successful, but the impact caused damage to the aircraft.
Description
The DC-5 transport plane took off from Charleville, QLD carrying about 20 U.S. Servicemen who were heading to Brisbane on leave. After climbing to 6000 feet one engine lost power completely. The crew feathered the propeller but were unable to maintain height. A forced landing was carried out on emergency landing strip near Lurnea Siding, about 30 miles east of Charleville. A satisfactory touch-down was made but unfortunately, on the strip, there was an anthill which was hit at about 70 mph causing the undercarriage strut to be pushed through a wing. Substantial damage to the airframe resulted but nobody was injured.
Primary Cause
Engine failure during a climb.Engine failure during a climb.Share on:
