Date:	Friday 7 March 1958
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Southern Aerial Super Services Pty Ltd
Registration:	VH-FAJ
MSN:	DHA.327
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	1 mile South East of Colebrook, Tasmania -   Australia
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Campania, Tasmania
Destination airport:	Colebrook, Tasmania

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-FAJ, Southern Aerial Super Services Pty Ltd, Campania, Tasmania: Written off (destroyed) 7.3.58 when crashed while crop-spraying a vineyard 1 mile South East of Colebrook, Tasmania. According to the summary of the DCA report into the incident:

"Whilst manoeuvring at low level in turbulent conditions for a spreading operation, the pilot was unable to prevent the aircraft descending into trees".

Ex-A17-308, and VH-AUH ("the first" in 1946-47). Registration VH-FAJ cancelled 15.7.59 as "withdrawn from use".

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. https://airwaysmuseum.com/Downloads/DCA%20accident%20reports%201956%20to%201968%20v2.pdf
3. As VH-FAJ 1952-1958: https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/17655:vh-faj-1
4. As VH-AUH ("the first") 1946-1947: https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/10765:vh-auh-1
5. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-FAJ.html
6. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa2/VH-AUH.html
7. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17b.htm
8. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus3.html
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campania,_Tasmania
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colebrook,_Tasmania

c/no.DHA.327: Taken on charge as A17-308 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 7.4.41. To 10 EFTS RAAF Temora, NSW 17.5.41. To De Havilland Australia at Mascot, Sydney, NSW 12.4.43 for overhaul. Upon completion, to 2 Aircraft Park. To 8 EFTS RAAF Narrandera, NSW 13.6.43. To 7 EFTS RAAF Western Junction, Launceston, Tasmania 12.1.45 for storage. Transferred to Care & Maintenance Unit at RAAF Western Junction, Launceston, Tasmania 1.6.45 for long-term storage pending disposal; put up for sale 6.12.45.

Struck off charge when sold 31.5.46 for £80 to E C Drum, Wollongong, NSW; issued to him 27.5.46. Registered as VH-AUH (C of R 990) 1.7.46 to Wollongong & South Coast Aviation Services, Wollongong. NSW. Withdrawn from use and registration cancelled 19.12.47. Registered VH-FAJ 19.12.52 to Airmech, Bankstown, Sydney, NSW. Re-registered 17.6.55 to Rural Aviation Co Ltd, Parafield. Re-registered 1.10.57 to Southern Aerial Super Services Pty Ltd, Campania, Tasmania.

Written off (destroyed) when crashed crop spraying 1 mile South East of Colebrook, Tasmania 7.3.58. Registration VH-FAJ cancelled 15.7.59.

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