No fatalities

Aircraft Skids Off Runway During Takeoff Roll (VH-ADG)

Guildford, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On December 1, 1947, a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly (registration VH-ADG) operated by Airlines WA was involved in an aviation accident near Guildford, Australia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 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

An aircraft lost control during the takeoff roll, skidding off the runway and coming to rest inverted. All three occupants were rescued, with one passenger sustaining minor injuries.

What happened

During the initial phase of the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional stability. The machine began to skid and subsequently veered away from the paved runway surface. It continued moving off the airfield until it came to a complete stop in an inverted position.

Emergency services responded to the scene where all three individuals on board were successfully extracted from the wreckage. While the incident resulted in significant structural damage to the airframe, the human toll was limited. One of the passengers sustained minor injuries during the event, while the pilot and the other passenger emerged unharmed.

Findings

The specific technical or environmental factors that precipitated the skid are not detailed in the available record. The primary outcome noted is the successful rescue of all occupants despite the aircraft ending up upside down.