No fatalities

NEI-AF aircraft runs off runway at Batchelor (N5-145)

Batchelor, AustraliaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 18, 1943, a North American B-25 Mitchell (registration N5-145) operated by Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force - ML-KNIL was involved in an aviation accident near Batchelor, Australia during landing or approach. 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 Netherlands East Indies Air Force aircraft named 'The Flying Dutchman' was damaged after running off the runway during a downwind landing at Batchelor airfield in the Northern Territory, with no casualties reported.

What happened

An aircraft belonging to 18 Squadron of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEI-AF/KNIL) experienced an incident while operating out of Batchelor airfield in the Northern Territory. The specific airframe was known by the nickname 'The Flying Dutchman'. During a downwind landing, the aircraft failed to stop within the runway boundaries and ran off the paved surface. This event resulted in damage to the airframe. Despite the impact and subsequent excursion, there were no casualties among the personnel on board.

Findings

The incident occurred specifically during the downwind phase of the landing procedure at Batchelor airfield. The primary outcome was structural damage to the aircraft following the runway excursion.