Date:	Tuesday 16 February 1960
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Victorian Aerial Farming Aids
Registration:	VH-BKN
MSN:	DHA.340/T87
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Madalya, Shire of Wellington, Victoria -   Australia
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Yarram Airport, Yarram, Victoria (YYRM)
Destination airport:	Madalya, Shire of Wellington, SE of Gippsland, Victoria

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-BKN, Jerzy Demar & Francis J Deacon, t/a Victorian Aerial Farming Aids, Minyip, Victoria. Written off (damaged beyond economic repair) when crashed while landing during agricultural (crop-spraying) operations near Madalya, Victoria 16.2.60. According to the summary from the DCA Report into the incident

"The aircraft swung during a landing on a sub-standard strip in crosswind conditions. It collided with trees when the pilot attempted to take-off again over unsuitable terrain".

Registration VH-BKN cancelled 17.8.60.

Yarram (formerly Yarram Yarram) is a town in the Shire of Wellington, Victoria, Australia, located in the southeast of Gippsland. Note that several sources mis-spell the crash location of "Madalya" as "Mandalya" [sic]. Madalya is a hamlet in Victoria and has about 20 residents. Madalya is situated nearby to Hiawatha and English’s Corner

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. https://airwaysmuseum.com/Downloads/DCA%20accident%20reports%201956%20to%201968%20v2.pdf
3. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austb/VH-BKN.html
4. https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/12076:vh-bkn-1
5. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17b.htm
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus3.html
7. https://www.city-facts.com/madalya/population
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minyip
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarram_Airport

9.

c/no. DHA.340: Taken on charge as A17-321 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 14.4.41. To 10 EFTS, RAAF Temora, NSW 17.5.41. To De Havilland Australia at Mascot, Sydney, NSW 5.4.43 for overhaul (DHA No T87). To 2 Aircraft Park 31.5.43. To 8 EFTS RAAF Narrandera, NSW 9.6.43. To 9 EFTS RAAF Cunderdin, WA 22.1.45 for storage; transferred to 86 OBU RAAF Cunderdin, WA 11.6.45 . Put up for sale 6.12.45; transferred to Care & Maintenance Unit 2.4.46 for long-term storage pending disposal.

Struck off charge when sold 2.12.46 for £60 to R G Mathews, HMAS Australia, Sydney, NSW; issued to him 16.1.47. Registered as VH-BKN (C of R 1516) 22.3.48 to Robert S (Bob) Couper, Perth, WA. Re-registered 20.3.49 to Daniel S Hunt, Perth, WA. Re-registered 6.12.51 to Baradine Aero Club, Baradine, NSW. Re-registered 23.4.55 to Alan L & Barrie J Paynter, Coolah, NSW. Badly damaged in a forced landing at Newcastle, NSW 29.10.55; repaired and returned to service. Re-registered 14.12.55 to Proctors Rural Services, Alexandra, Victoria. Re-registered 7.1.57 to Jerzy Demar & Francis J Deacon, t/a Victorian Aerial Farming Aids, Minyip, Victoria.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) when crashed while crop-spraying near Madalya, Victoria 16.2.60. Registration VH-BKN cancelled 17.8.60.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
27-Apr-2025 06:48	Dr. John Smith	Added