Date:	Friday 14 January 1955
Time:	13:00
Type:	de Havilland DH-82A Tiger Moth
Owner/operator:	Royal Victorian Aero Club
Registration:	VH-RVA
MSN:	DHA.999
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	E Davis Farm, Tarneit, 5 miles North of Werribee, Victoria -   Australia
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne, Victoria (MBW/YMMB)
Destination airport:	Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne, Victoria (MBW/YMMB)

Narrative:
DH.82A Tiger Moth VH-RVA, Royal Victorian Aero Club: Written off (destroyed) when collided with Tiger Moth VH-RVE and crashed Tarneit, 5 miles North of Werribee, Victoria 14.1.55; pilot Allan Ogilvie Cartledge killed. The incident was reported at the time in the local newspapers (The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Saturday 15 January 1955 Page 1):

ONE KILLED AS PLANES HIT
AS Malcolm Inglis was wrestling to bring his damaged plane down after the mid-air collision at Werribee yesterday, the other plane plunged 2,000ft. in a death dive into a paddock. Pilot was Aircraftman-recruit Allan Ogilvie Cartledge, 18, of Launceston, Tasmania.

Mr. R. Davis, who saw the accident while stacking hay with Lindsay Gilbey on Mr. E. Davis' farm at Tarneit, five miles north of Werribee, said two planes had been flying close together for some time before the crash. "About 1 p.m. we heard a terrific bang and looked up to see one of the planes falling, with part of its wing off," he said. "The pilot didn't have a chance as it dived like a stone into a paddock owned by Mr. C. Cowie".

"The collision seemed to knock Inglis' plane out of control, but he kept it in the air for about two minutes until he got it down on its nose in a paddock, half a mile from the other, said Mr. Davis. "Inglis got out and walked around dazed for a few minutes before he began running to wards Cartledge's wreck with us following him. "Cartledge was dead when we got there. His safety belt was still tightened, and apparently he had no chance of getting out."

Mr. Cowie said the engine of one plane appeared to be not functioning properly shortly before the crash."It appeared to be making a loud, unusual 'woo-woo' noise, but I was inside and didn't take notice until I heard the bang."

The only Injury Inglis suffered was shock and slight abrasions to his knee.' He was allowed special leave last night to rest at his parents' home in Dare St., Ocean Grove. The young pilot's father, Mr. Ellis, Scott Inglis, said last night: "I picked Malcolm up this afternoon. He is suffering from extensive bruises, but otherwise he is all right."

Mr. Inglis said that an Air Force medical officer had told him not to discuss the crash with his son".

Registration VH-RVA cancelled 14.1.55. As for Tiger Moth VH-RVE, the other aircraft involved in the collision, it too was deemed a written off (damaged beyond repair) although as detailed above, the pilot survived with only bruising (see separate ASN entry).

Allan Ogilvie Cartledge, the pilot of Tiger Moth VH-RVE was interred on 18.1.55 (four days later) at Carr Villa Memorial Park, Kings Meadows, Launceston City, Tasmania, Australia. the memorial marker gives his age as "19 years" (born 1936) and "accidentally killed".

Tarneit is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km (16 miles) west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Wyndham local government area.

1. https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf
2. The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Saturday 15 January 1955 Page 1): ONE KILLED AS PLANES HIT: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71689696
3. https://www.austairdata.com.au/component/rsdirectory/entry/view/31756:vh-rve-1
4. https://edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austmz/VH-RVA%281%29.html
5. http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a17b.htm
6. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/pAus9.html
7. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/212803857/allan-ogilvie-cartledge
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarneit

c/no. DHA.999: Taken on charge as A17-564 at 2 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Richmond, NSW 10.7.42. To 1 AOS, RAAF Station, Cootamundra, NSW 18.7.42. To 8 EFTS RAAF Narrandera, NSW 4.12.42. To Care & Maintenance Unit RAAF Tamworth, NSW 2.1.45 for long-term storage pending disposal; put up for sale 11.7.47.

Struck off charge when sold 12.1.48 for £120 to Royal Victorian Aero Club, Essendon, Melbourne, Victoria; issued to them 4.5.48. Registered VH-RVA (CofR 2308) 12.2.54 to Royal Victorian Aero Club, Moorabbin, Melbourne, Victoria.

Collided with Tiger Moth VH-RVE and crashed E. Davis Farm, Tarneit, 5 miles North of Werribee, Victoria 14.1.55; pilot Allan Ogilvie Cartledge killed. Registration VH-RVA cancelled 14.1.55.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
17-May-2025 15:41	Dr. John Smith	Added
21-May-2025 06:17	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative, ]