No fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft crash during takeoff at Terapo Airfield (A34-15)

Terapo, Papua New GuineaTakeoff (climb)

On June 18, 1943, a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon (registration A34-15) operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Terapo, 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine airplane crashed into light jungle beside the strip while taking off from Terapo Airfield. All four occupants escaped without injury, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

What happened

During a departure from Terapo Airfield, the twin engine airplane experienced a violent swing immediately after lifting off. The loss of control caused the aircraft to crash into the light jungle located adjacent to the runway strip. Despite the severity of the impact, all four individuals on board survived and escaped without sustaining any injuries. The airframe sustained significant damage that rendered it beyond repair.

Findings

The incident involved a crew member acting as pilot-in-command alongside three passengers. No specific mechanical failures or environmental factors were detailed in the available records regarding the cause of the violent swing, but the outcome resulted in total loss of the aircraft with no fatalities.