QANTAS crash in 1951
 

Often heard, QANTAS airlines has never had a fatal crash . Well apparently not true for in 1951 a QANTAS Drover crashed approaching LAE, PNG, killing all 7 on board.

http://www.goodall.com.au/australian...ver/drover.htm

Unhappy early days


" The early years of Drover operations were not happy times. Qantas was unimpressed with their takeoff and climb performance in the New Guinea Highlands, and initial teething problems associated with any new type. The first hint of serious problems ahead came in July 1951 when Qantas Drover VH-EBQ ditched in the sea inbound to Lae, New Guinea with the loss of the Captain and six passengers. Initially blamed on pilot-error for continuing VFR flight in low cloud and rain, but later investigation established that a propeller blade on the centre engine had suffered a structural failure and broke away, pulling the engine out of its mountings in flight. "