Mount Dandenong Plane Crash | 1938-2026
On Tuesday 25th October 1938, an Australian National Airways Douglas DC-2 airplane crashed into the Dandenong Ranges killing all 18 passengers on board.
The Kyeema airline plane flying from Adelaide to Melbourne commenced its final approach to Essendon Airport (keeping in mind there was no Tullamarine Airport then) through heavy fog and crashed into the western slopes of Mount Dandenong.
The flight took off from Adelaide at 11:22am. As it entered Melbourne airspace, it came across a heavy cloud layer, making landmark navigation difficult. As a result, the flight crew mistakenly identified Sunbury as Daylesford through a gap in the clouds, leading them to believe that they were 30 kilometres behind where they actually were on their flight plan.
They had overshot Essendon Airport and, unable to see through the heavy fog, crashed into Mount Dandenong [map] a few hundred metres from the summit.
A South Australian federal politician and three winemakers were among the 18 passengers and crew killed.
The Kyeema crash was a watershed in Australian aviation. At the time navigational radio beacons were in place that could have prevented the accident. They just hadn't been turned on.
Remembrance Day
❊ When ❊
Sunday 25th October 2026
❊ Web Links ❊
Advertiser:
en.wikipedia.org
→ www.wikipedia.org/1938_Kyeema_Crash
→ Kyeema air disaster lives in the memory, 70 years on
❊ Also See.. ❊
Mount Dandenong 3767
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