Index of Public Inquiries into Air Accidents from 1938

This index of Public Inquiries into air accidents in Australia from the inception of Air Courts of Inquiry in 1938 to the present time has been compiled by Ian Leslie, former head of DCA's Air Safety Investigation Branch.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about this list is how few accidents have been the subject of a Public Inquiry, and a number of high-profile accidents that do not appear in the list. Also notable is the blowout in recent times of the number of sitting days required to reach a conclusion.

Click here to read more about the history of air accident investigation in Australia
Aircraft and Operator Date & Place of Accident, plus Casualties Inquiry Type, Date & Length, Chairman

Douglas DC2 VH-UYC Kyeema
Australian National Airways

25/10/1938 Mount Dandenong Vic.
4 crew 14 passengers - all fatal

Air Court of Inquiry 28/10/1938
22 sitting days
Chairman Col. T.Murdoch

Stinson A2W VH-UYY Tokana
Australian National Airways 		31/1/1945 Mia Mia Vic
2 crew 8 passengers - all fatal 		Air Court of Inquiry 27/3/1945
7 sitting days
Chairman Mr. Justice Philp
Douglas DC3 VH-AET
Australian National Airways 		10/3/1946 Cambridge Tasmania
4 crew 21 passengers - all fatal 		Air Court of Inquiry 30/4/1946
8 sitting days
Chairman Mr.Justice W.B.Simpson
Douglas DC3 VH-ANK Lutana
Australian National Airways 		2/9/1948 nr. Quirindi New South Wales
3 crew 10 passengers - all fatal 		Air Court of Inquiry 28/9/1948
20 sitting days
Chairman Mr. Justice W.B.Simpson
Douglas DC3 VH-MME
MacRoberson Miller Aviation 		2/7/1949 South Guildford Western Australia
4 crew 14 passengers - all fatal 		Air Court of Inquiry 12/12/1949
8 sitting days
Chairman Mr. Justice Wolff
Douglas DC4 VH-ANA Amana
Australian National Airways

26/6/50 near York, Western Australia
5 crew 23 passengers - all fatal

Air Court of Inquiry 6/2/1951
12 sitting days
Chairman Mr. Justice W.B.Simpson
Fokker F.27 VH-TFB
Australian National Airlines Commission (TAA) 		10/6/1960 Mackay, Queensland
4 crew 25 passengers - all fatal 		Board of Inquiry 4/10/1960
17 sitting days
Chairman Mr Justice Spicer
Vickers Viscount 720C VH-TVC
Australian National Airways Pty.Ltd. 		30/11/1961 Botany Bay, New South Wales
4 crew 11 passengers - all fatal 		Board of Inquiry 12/6/1962
26 sitting days
Chairman Mr. Justice Spicer
Vickers Viscount 832 VH-RMI
Ansett/ANA 		23/9/1966 Winton, Queensland
4 crew 20 passengers - all fatal 		Board of Inquiry 26/4/1967
56 sitting days
Chairman Mr. Justice Spicer
Beech 200 Super King Air VH-AAV
Advance Airlines 		21/2/1980 Sydney New South Wales
1 crew 12 passengers - all fatal 		Board of Inquiry 1/12/1981
90 sitting days
Chairman Sir Sydney Frost


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