5 fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash in initial climb from Richmond Airport (N4887)

Richmond, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On December 18, 1939, an Avro 652 Anson (registration N4887) operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Richmond, Australia during takeoff. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of control was attributed to an engine failure that occurred shortly after the aircraft rotated for takeoff. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a golf course shortly after takeoff from Richmond Airport during the initial climb phase, resulting in the deaths of all five occupants on board.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following departure from Richmond Airport. While executing the initial climb phase of flight, the twin-engine aircraft experienced a stall. The loss of control resulted in the airframe impacting the ground and crashing onto an adjacent golf course. All five individuals on board perished in the accident.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the immediate cause of the accident was an engine failure occurring shortly after rotation. This mechanical issue led to a loss of control during the critical early climb stage, which ultimately caused the crash.

Probable cause

The loss of control was attributed to an engine failure that occurred shortly after the aircraft rotated for takeoff.