No fatalities

Daly Waters delivery flight crash due to dual engine failure (VH-BKM)

Daly Waters, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On May 6, 1948, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration VH-BKM) operated by Connellan Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Daly Waters, Australia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Simultaneous failure of both engines during initial climb. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 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 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Daly Waters when both engines failed during initial climb, resulting in injuries to all four occupants.

What happened

The incident occurred during a scheduled delivery flight departing from Daly Waters with a destination of Alice Springs. The aircraft carried a crew of two and two female passengers. One minute after liftoff, while climbing at an altitude of approximately 150 feet, the airframe experienced a simultaneous loss of power in both engines.

The pilot attempted to execute an emergency landing in nearby open terrain. However, just before touchdown, the left engine unexpectedly regained thrust. This sudden change in power distribution caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable, leading to a crash where the airframe was destroyed by fire. All four individuals on board sustained injuries in the accident.

Findings

The official investigation identified double engine failure as the primary cause of the event.

Probable cause

Simultaneous failure of both engines during initial climb.