On February 3, 1938, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration A3-2) operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Laverton AFB (Melbourne), Australia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was attributed to insufficient altitude maintained during the final turn on approach. 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.
A training aircraft crashed while completing a final turn at low height near Melbourne, resulting in injuries to all three occupants and total loss of the airframe.
What happened
The incident involved a local training mission departing from RAAF Laverton in Melbourne. The crew consisted of two student pilots and one instructor. During the final approach phase, the aircraft was executing a last turn at low altitude to align with the runway. At this point, the airframe impacted the ground via one of its wings. The impact caused the aircraft to cartwheel before it came to rest in a destroyed condition.
All three individuals on board sustained injuries during the crash. No fatalities were reported in the available records for this specific event description.
Probable cause
The accident was attributed to insufficient altitude maintained during the final turn on approach.
What happened in the 3 Feb 1938 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident near Laverton AFB (Melbourne), Australia?
A training aircraft crashed while completing a final turn at low height near Melbourne, resulting in injuries to all three occupants and total loss of the airframe.
Were there any fatalities in the 3 Feb 1938 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 3 Feb 1938 involved a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide, registration A3-2, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, at Laverton AFB (Melbourne), Australia.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The accident was attributed to insufficient altitude maintained during the final turn on approach.
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