Investigation Summary
On the morning of March 21, 1931, the Southern Cloud departed Sydney at 08:10 local time. The flight was operated by Australian National Airways, a company co-founded by famed aviators Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. At the time, aircraft were not equipped with radios, meaning the crew had no way to receive updated weather reports or communicate their position once in flight. As the aircraft proceeded south, it encountered a severe weather system moving across the Snowy Mountains. The wreckage, discovered decades later, was located at Deep Creek, approximately 25 kilometers east of the direct flight path, suggesting the pilots were pushed off course by high winds or were attempting to navigate around the storm. The aircraft struck a ridge in the Kosciuszko National Park and was destroyed by impact and a subsequent fire. The loss of the Southern Cloud, followed by another crash in Malaya later that year, led to the financial collapse of the original Australian National Airways.
Final Conclusions
The investigation, completed after the 1958 discovery, concluded that the accident was caused by the aircraft encountering severe weather conditions that were much worse than the forecasts available at the time of departure. The aircraft was found facing the opposite direction of its intended travel, indicating the pilot may have been attempting to turn back or was severely disoriented by the storm. The lack of two-way radio communication was a significant factor in the inability to warn the crew of the deteriorating conditions.
Video Analysis
Tim The Yowie Man treks to the wreckage of the Southern Cloud — A trek to the remote crash site of the Southern Cloud in the Snowy Mountains, exploring the history of Australia's first major civil air disaster.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Radio Communication
The aircraft was not equipped with a radio, preventing any communication between the pilots and ground stations regarding the worsening weather.
Avro 618 Ten Engines
The aircraft was powered by three Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC radial engines; parts of these engines were later used in a memorial in Cooma.
Interesting Facts
- 01It was Australia's first major airline disaster.
- 02The wreckage was found 25 kilometers (16 miles) east of the direct Sydney to Melbourne flight route.
- 03The aircraft was a British license-built version of the Fokker F.VIIb/3m, manufactured by A.V. Roe & Co Ltd.
- 04The discovery of the wreckage occurred 27 years after the disappearance by Thomas Sonter, a carpenter on the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
- 05A small stream adjacent to the crash site was later named Shortridge Creek in honor of the pilot.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Mandatory Radio Equipment
The disappearance of the Southern Cloud contributed to the eventual requirement for all passenger aircraft in Australia to be equipped with two-way radios.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Pilot's Decision to Fly
Reference ↗There was debate regarding Captain Shortridge's decision to depart Sydney despite reports of a 'deep depression' moving across the route. While he was a highly experienced pilot, the lack of real-time weather updates meant he was unaware of the cyclone-like conditions he would face over the mountains.