All 31 souls onboard perished in this incident. The ‘passenger’ complement was a mix of US and Australian personnel. A new memorial was unveiled this year to recognise and remember the victims of what is still today, Australia’s 2nd worst aviation disaster.
The disaster occurred six days before Christmas, where the troops on board were coming home. It was just a routine flight, and their parents, their families, their wives, their girlfriends were waiting for them.
From substantial research undertaken by a Yeppoon historian, it would appear that this aircraft – a reasonably new one – suffered an engine fire while overflying an area of fairly rough terrain, some 60 kilometres North of Rockhampton. Rockhampton is approx 750 kilometres South of Townsville.
The location of the crash, on the remote and isolated Canal Creek Cattle Station, approximately 50 kilometres North of Rockhampton would suggest the pilot had selected a ‘clay pan’ in preparation for an emergency/forced landing. However witness reports indicate that while on descent, an explosion occurred, and the burning wing parted from the aircraft. The plane did reach the lightly treed flat plain – but was already doomed due to its uncontrollable, unflyable condition.
From substantial research undertaken by a Yeppoon historian, it would appear that this aircraft – a reasonably new one – suffered an engine fire while overflying an area of fairly rough terrain, some 60 kilometres North of Rockhampton. Rockhampton is approx 750 kilometres South of Townsville.
The location of the crash, on the remote and isolated Canal Creek Cattle Station, approximately 50 kilometres North of Rockhampton would suggest the pilot had selected a ‘clay pan’ in preparation for an emergency/forced landing. However witness reports indicate that while on descent, an explosion occurred, and the burning wing parted from the aircraft. The plane did reach the lightly treed flat plain – but was already doomed due to its uncontrollable, unflyable condition.
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