Date:	Tuesday 4 September 1956
Time:	day
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Robby's Aircraft Co Ltd
Registration:	VH-RAO
MSN:	DHA.357
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Netherleigh, near Swan Reach, South Australia -   Australia
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Netherleigh, near Swan Reach, SA
Destination airport:

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-AHO, Robby's Aircraft Co Ltd: Badly damaged in take-off crash at Netherleigh, near Swan Reach, South Australia 4.9.56. According to the summary from the DCA Report into the incident:

"The aircraft nosed over following a forced landing after take-off due to engine failure. Cause of engine failure undetermined".

Ex-A17-338, VH-AHO. Registration VH-RAO cancelled 22.9.59.

Swan Reach is a river port in South Australia 127 km north-east of Adelaide on the Murray River between Blanchetown and Mannum in South Australia.

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/austa/VH-AHO.html
4. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austmz/VH-RAO.html
5. As VH-RAO: 1952-1959: https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/30468:vh-rao-1
6. As VH-AHO 1947-1952: https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/9566:vh-aho-1
7. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17b.htm
8. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus3.html
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Reach,_South_Australia

c/no. DHA.357: Taken on charge as A17-338 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 14.4.41. To 4 EFTS RAAF Mascot, Sydney, NSW 5.5.41. To 11 EFTS RAAF Benalla, Victoria 20.4.42. To Victorian & Interstate Airways, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria 1.9.43 for overhaul. Upon completion, to 1 Aircraft Depot 1.2.44. To 5 EFTS RAAF Narromine, NSW 7.2.44. To 11 EFTS RAAF Benalla, Victoria 23.6.44. To 7 SFTS Deniliquin 17.9.44; renamed Advanced Flying & Refresher Unit 16.12.44; withdrawn from service to storage reserve 3.10.45. Transferred to Care & Maintenance Unit 21.3.46 for long-term storage pending disposal; put up for sale 7.6.46.

Sold 21.10.46 for £100 to Association of Australian Aero Clubs, Sydney; issued 23.12.46. Registered VH-AHO (C of R 1238) 15.4.47 to Bond\'s Airways Ltd, Adelaide, SA. Re-registered 27.6.49 to Robby\'s Aircraft Repair Co Ltd, Parafield, Adelaide, SA. Damaged when overturned crop-spraying near Jamestown, SA 31.10.51; repaired and returned to service. Re-registered VH-RAO 14.7.52 to same owner. Re-registered 1954 to Robby\'s Aircraft Co Ltd.

Badly damaged in take-off crash Netherleigh, near Swan Reach, SA 4.9.56. Registration VH-RAO cancelled 22.9.59.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
28-Apr-2025 05:20	Dr. John Smith	Added