No fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Overruns Runway and Crashes in Ravine (VH-AOP)

Hayfield, Papua New GuineaTakeoff (climb)

On August 9, 1954, a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon (registration VH-AOP) operated by Mandated Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Hayfield, Papua New Guinea during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft overran the runway and crashed in a ravine after the pilot aborted takeoff due to brake problems. All eight occupants were injured, and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Incident Overview and Outcome During a takeoff attempt, the pilot of a twin-engine aircraft reported encountering technical problems with the braking system. The pilot subsequently decided to abandon the takeoff procedure. The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance, resulting in an overrun. The aircraft crashed in a deep ravine and was destroyed by fire. All eight occupants on board were injured in the incident. No specific aircraft type, registration, operator, date, or location was provided in the source material. The probable cause was not explicitly stated in the source, though the source notes the pilot encountered technical problems with the brakes and decided to abandon the takeoff.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Aug 1954 De Havilland DH.84 Dragon accident near Hayfield, Papua New Guinea?

A twin-engine aircraft overran the runway and crashed in a ravine after the pilot aborted takeoff due to brake problems. All eight occupants were injured, and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Aug 1954 De Havilland DH.84 Dragon accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Aug 1954 involved a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon, registration VH-AOP, operated by Mandated Airlines, at Hayfield, Papua New Guinea.