On 26 June 1950, a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster aircraft departed from Perth, Western Australia, for an eight-hour flight to Adelaide, South Australia. It crashed 22 minutes after take-off, east of Perth Airport. All 29 occupants were killed in the accident; one initially survived but died five days later."First Fatal Crash In 14 Years Of Service" The West Australian – 28 June 1950, p.5 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012"Twenty-Eight Lives Lost In Air Crash" The West Australian – 28 June 1950, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 22 September 2012 As of 2025, it remains tied with the 1960 crash of Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538 as the worst aviation accident in Australia's peacetime history, at 29 fatalities each. By death toll, they are only beaten by the 40-fatality Bakers Creek air crash which occurred during World War II.

As the aircraft flew eastwards over the outer suburbs of Perth numerous witnesses observed that it was flying at a lower altitude than usual for the daily Skymaster services, and at least one of the engines was running roughly and backfiring at regular intervals. In the minutes before it crashed, witnesses heard a variety of engine noises – sometimes operating normally, sometimes all engine noise ceased, only to be replaced by what was described as a very loud, high-pitched "scream". When the wrecked engines were examined many weeks after the accident a significant amount of corrosion product was found in the fuel system within two of the engines. After a preliminary investigation, Investigators from the Department of Civil Aviation believed the water responsible for the corrosion was also responsible for rough running of at least one engine, and ultimately temporary loss of power from all engines on at least one occasion. The investigators did not find a likely source for the water.

All but one of the 29 occupants on board the aircraft died at the scene, either from multiple injuries and burns, or from incineration. One elderly male passenger initially survived the crash. The first rescuers at the crash site found him wandering about, dazed and distressed. He suffered serious burns and was admitted to hospital where he died five days later.

The accident became the subject of an Inquiry chaired by a Supreme Court judge. In the absence of evidence indicating the source of any water in the fuel, the Inquiry dismissed the submission that water was responsible for the accident. The Inquiry did not determine the cause of the accident but it made recommendations to enhance the safety of aircraft operations.

The flight The aircraft was the Amana, a Douglas DC-4-1009 registered VH-ANA and the flagship of the Australian National Airways fleet. It flew for the first time on 28 January 1946 and was flown to Australia on 9 February 1946."Aussie Airliners" Retrieved 22 September 2012

The Amana departed from Perth Airport at 9:55 pm for the 8-hour flight to Adelaide. On board were 24 passengers, 3 pilots and two air hostesses."28 Killed In Australia’s Worst Air Disaster: Survivor Badly Burned" The Sydney Morning Herald – 28 June 1950, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012

A radio report was received from the Amana at 10:00 pm advising it was on course and climbing to 9,000 feet. Nothing more was heard from the aircraft."Mysterious Aspects Of Air Crash" The West Australian – 28 June 1950, p.4 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 As it flew east over the outer suburbs of Perth numerous people on the ground observed that it was flying unusually low, and heard at least one of its engines running roughly and backfiring repeatedly."Witnesses Tell Of Air Disaster" The West Australian – 8 February 1951, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 Amana crashed at about 10:13 pm.

Crash

Residents on farming properties to the west of York heard a large aircraft flying low over the area. The aircraft seemed to be in trouble because the noise from the engines was changing significantly. At times the engines seemed to be operating normally but on at least one occasion all engine noise ceased for a brief time and then returned as a very loud, high-pitched noise. One resident reported that when all engine noise ceased he could hear a rushing sound until the scream from the engines returned. Several residents reported seeing a bright flash of white light in the distance, followed by a loud crashing and scraping noise. Those closest to the crash could then see the yellow glow of a major fire."People Say Engines Irregular" The Daily News – 31 August 1950, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012

Ten minutes after the Amana set course for Adelaide, a Douglas DC-4 operated by Trans Australia Airlines took off from Perth, also heading for Adelaide. As the TAA aircraft set course for Adelaide, the captain, Douglas MacDonald,"Weatherhead Tests On Amana" The West Australian – 9 February 1951, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 saw a vivid white flash on the horizon in the direction in which he was heading. It lasted about six seconds, long enough for him to draw it to the attention of the two other crew members. Eight minutes later, the TAA aircraft passed over a band of fire on the ground. MacDonald estimated the fire was east of Perth Airport. As MacDonald approached Cunderdin, he was aware the Amana, flying about ten minutes ahead of him, had not yet radioed its position report at Cunderdin. He became concerned that the vivid white flash and the ground fire might indicate some tragedy had befallen the Amana so he contacted Air Traffic Control. Air Traffic Control was also concerned about the Amana's failure to report at Cunderdin so on hearing MacDonald's observations of the vivid white flash and the ground fire they activated emergency procedures. They asked MacDonald to fly back to the fire and determine its position. MacDonald did so and advised Air Traffic Control of bearings from the fire to York and Northam, the towns nearest the crash site."Explosion Seen By T.A.A. Captain" The West Australian – 28 June 1950, p.5 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012

Search and rescue Frank McNamara (62), a beekeeper, and Geoff Inkpen (25), a young farmer, heard the sound of a big aircraft in serious trouble, flying low nearby. McNamara described the noise from the engines as "terrifying"."Eye-Witnesses Of Air Crash Fighting Fires" The Courier-Mail – 10 February 1951, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 They investigated and saw the bright light of a flash fire. McNamara sent his two teenage sons in his utility truck to York to alert the police. McNamara and Inkpen then set out on foot in the direction of the fire. As there was bright moonlight, they were able to hurry through the bush. After about half an hour, they came upon a scene of devastation. They were astonished to find an elderly man in a dazed state wandering around the burning wreckage. He gave his name and explained that he had been a passenger on a large aircraft. He had initially survived the crash despite being badly burned, but died five days later from his injuries. Everyone else died at the scene of the crash.

In response to notification from Air Traffic Control, three ambulances from Perth were despatched in the direction of the crash site, known to be somewhere between Chidlow and York. The crash site was several miles from the road so the ambulance crews travelled eastwards all the way to York without sighting a fire. The crews were eventually guided back along the main road and then along a dirt road that enabled them to drive to within three or four miles of the crash site. The crews then took their first-aid boxes and set out on foot."Long Trail Ends At Wreckage In Bush" The West Australian – 28 June 1950, p.5 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012

Frank McNamara made a bed of leaves for the initial survivor and built a fire to help keep him as warm and comfortable as possible. McNamara stayed with the initial survivor while Inkpen went to summon help. After several hours, ambulance crews arrived and administered first-aid and morphia."Survivor Tells Of Terrified Screams" The Daily News – 27 June 1950, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012"Nightmare Dash To Get Survivor To Hospital" The Daily News – 27 June 1950, p.2 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 Rescue workers constructed a stretcher using saplings, bandages and overcoats. They covered the initial survivor with an overcoat and carried him for two hours to cover about two miles through thickly wooded country to McNamara's utility truck, which then carried him and his rescuers to a waiting ambulance.

Frank McNamara and Geoff Inkpen were publicly thanked by the Minister for Civil Aviation for the great assistance they rendered to the rescue effort throughout the night. In a public letter to Frank McNamara, the minister acknowledged the unrelenting effort of McNamara and his sons under extremely difficult conditions. He also acknowledged McNamara's care of the survivor and regretted that McNamara was not rewarded by seeing the survivor recover."Searchers Praised By Minister" The West Australian – 11 October 1950, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 In a public letter to Geoff Inkpen, the Minister expressed his deep appreciation for Inkpen's actions on the night of the crash. During World War II, Inkpen had served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)World War II Nominal Roll (Australian War Memorial) Retrieved 16 October 2012 as a navigator and the minister acknowledged that, in peacetime, Inkpen had continued to uphold "the fine traditions" of the RAAF."Air Minister's Thanks" The West Australian – 14 October 1950, p.27 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012

Fate of those on board Initially, one passenger survived the crash. He was identified as the 67-year-old managing director of Forwood Down, a South Australian engineering company. He was the oldest person on board the flight, and probably the most experienced air traveller."Airminded Traveller A Survivor" The West Australian – 28 June 1950, p.5 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012"Only One Survived 'Amana' Crash" The Argus – 28 June 1950, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012 He was interviewed by police in hospital in Perth, but was not aware of much detail about the final minutes of the flight. He said there was no sign of fire prior to the crash and no announcement to passengers to fasten their seat belts. He died five days after the crash and was buried at the North Road cemetery in Adelaide, his home town."Plane Crash Survivor" The West Australian – 3 July 1950, p.2 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012"Funeral Of Air Crash Victim" The Advertiser – 6 July 1950, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012

Investigators believed the aircraft captain survived for a short time after the crash. His body was a short distance away from his seat and both were a few metres ahead of the wreckage where they had been thrown after the nose of the aircraft was split open in the impact with a large tree. The seat belt had not broken, but it had been undone. The captain's tunic was pulled up over his head as though to protect his face from the heat of the nearby inferno. Investigators believed he initially survived the crash and undid his seat belt to drag himself away from the fire. His body was not burnt, but the autopsy showed both his legs were broken and he died from a fractured skull."Nothing Unusual Noticed Before Fatal Flight" The West Australian – 31 August 1950, p.4 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 22 September 2012