Date:	Friday 1 July 1960
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Robert G Carswell, t/a Carsair Air Service Pty
Registration:	VH-AQD
MSN:	DHA.35
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	near Rathdowney, Queensland -   Australia
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, Queensland (YBAF)
Destination airport:	Rathdowney, Queensland

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-AQD, Robert G Carswell, t/a Carsair Air Service Pty: Written off (damaged beyond repair) when struck tree and crashed on landing at Rathdowney, Queensland 1.7.60. Aircraft caught fire on impact, and burnt out: pilot, David Campbell killed. According to the summary from the DCA Report into the incident (see link #4)

"The pilot apparently became lost during a cross-country travel flight whilst low flying probably in search of a suitable landing area. The aircraft collided with a dead tree which the pilot presumably did not see and was burnt out".

Registration VH-AQD cancelled 22.7.60

Rathdowney (historically also written as Rathdownie) is a rural town and locality in the Scenic Rim Region, Queensland, Australia

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17a.htm
3. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus0.html
4. https://airwaysmuseum.com/Downloads/DCA%20accident%20reports%201956%20to%201968%20v2.pdf
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathdowney,_Queensland

c/no. DHA.35 (Gipsy Major #86219): Taken on charge as A17-38 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 12.7.40. To 5 EFTS RAAF Narromine, NSW 18.7.40. Fitted 5.41 with new engine (Gipsy Major #80191). To Newcastle Aero Club, Broadmeadow, NSW 5.7.41 for overhaul; fitted with another new engine (Gipsy Major #82728). To 2 Aircraft Deport 22.8.41. To 2 EFTS RAAF Archerfield, Brisbane, Queensland 20.9.41. To 11 EFTS Benalla 20.4.42 for shipment to Tasmania. To 7 EFTS Western Junction 12.5.42. To Ansett, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria 2.9.42 for overhaul; to 1 Aircraft Depot 1.12.42. To 1 AOS 14.12.42 and issued to 3 Communications Flight, Mascot, Sydney, NSW 11.1.43. Damaged in forced landing 10.9.43; to De Havilland Australia at Mascot, Sydney, NSW for repairs 2.10.43; to 2 Aircraft Park upon completion of repairs. 26.11.43. To 11 EFTS RAAF Benalla, Victoria 30.11.43.

Inflight collision with Tiger Moth A17-180 and crashed at Benalla, Victoria 3.7.44; to De Havilland Australia at Mascot, Sydney, NSW 13.7.44 for repairs; De Havilland Australia Repair No T276. To 2 Aircraft Park 6.9.44 upon completion of repairs. To 8 SFTS RAAF Bundaberg, Queensland 11.9.44. To 88 OBU RAF Bundaberg, Queensland for storage 14.6.45. To Care & Maintenance Unit, Evans Head 7.7.45; put up for disposal 6.12.45. Struck off charge when sold 8.2.46 to Royal Queensland Aero Club, Archerfield, Brisbane for £242; issued to them 12.2.46.

Australian civil registered as VH-AQD (C of R 905) 18.3.46 to Royal Queensland Aero Club, Archerfield, Brisbane, Queensland. Damaged in crash on landing at Roma, Queensland 12.8.50; repaired and returned to service. Re-registered 16.6.60 to Robert G Carswell, t/a Carsair Air Service Pty Ltd, Archerfield, Brisbane.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) when struck tree and crashed on landing at Rathdowney, Queensland 1.7.60 as per the above; pilot David Campbell killed. Registration VH-AQD cancelled 22.7.60

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
28-Mar-2025 08:54	Dr. John Smith	Added
28-Mar-2025 08:56	ASN	Updated [Departure airport, Narrative, ]
16-Apr-2025 09:37	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ]