Australian Air Liner Feared to Have Crashed Into Sea

Grey River Argus, 4 September 1948, Page 5

Australian Air Liner Feared to Have Crashed Into Sea

' . September 3. A Douglas Dakota airliner, “Lu- ' tana,” of Australian National Airways, carrying ten passengers and a crew of three, is missing on a flight from Brisbane to Sydney, and it is feared it crashed into the sea off Terrigal, about mid-way between Newcastle and Sydney. The belief is based on a report from the steamer “Caldare,” that a ’plane roared past obviously at a low altitude, although unseen, because of bad visibility at the time. The authorities estimate that the Dakota would have been •in that vicinity. The petrol supply would be exhausted at 3 a.m. to-day, and there is no report of the plane attempting to land at any recognised airstrip or on a beach. The airliner was last reported by radio at 8.12 last night when it was near Gosford, 47 miles north of Sydney. The ’plane was then at 4,000 feet, was on time, and on the correct course, and was preparing to land at Mascot aerodrome, Sydney, 28 minutes later. The pilot said that he was decending about 300 feet a minute. Previously he reported icing and h&ad winds, but the last report .indicated that conditions were normal. A Catalina flying-boat and a rescue launch left the Rathmines flying base at the first light to-day and R.A.A.F. Dakotas are joining in the senrcli (Rec 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept 3. A large patch of oil on-the ocean three miles off-shore, 18 miles south of Newcastle, has been discovered. This supports the fears that She missing A.N.A. Douglas airliner has crashed into the sea. The oil was sighted by a Swansea Aero Club official, flying a tiger moth, and one of many R.A.A.F. searching aircraft which have been sweeping the land and sea from dawn to dusk.