4 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash near Newrybar with four fatalities (A4-20)

Newrybar, AustraliaFlight

On May 22, 1944, an Avro 652 Anson (registration A4-20) operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Newrybar, Australia in flight. 4 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine military aircraft crashed near Newrybar, north of Ballina, after losing control en route to RAAF Evans Head. All four crew members were killed in the accident.

What happened

During an en route flight, the crew encountered an unexpected situation that prompted the captain to initiate a diversion to RAAF Evans Head. While proceeding toward the alternate airfield, the twin-engine aircraft lost control for reasons that remain undetermined. The aircraft subsequently crashed in the vicinity of Newrybar, located north of Ballina.

The wreckage and the bodies of all four crew members were recovered on June 15. The flight was operated by the 1st Air Navigation School (ANS). The personnel aboard consisted of a pilot, a navigator, and two trainee navigators.