The light plane that crashed at Stockleigh, south of Brisbane, on 7 September could not be started on several attempts before it took off from Archerfield Airport, according to a preliminary report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on Tuesday (3 November). The report outlines evidence gathered so far and does not contain analysis or findings, which the ATSB says will be detailed in a final report at the conclusion of the investigation.
Barambah Organics founder Ian Campbell, 56, and his daughter Hannah Campbell, 23, died in the crash, the ABC reported. Mr Campbell held a private pilot's licence.
Engine Start and Take-Off
The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, registered VH-MPT, was being prepared for a private flight from Archerfield to St George with a pilot and one passenger on board, the report says. Fuel records indicated 80 L of aviation gasoline was added at about 8.54am.
Closed-circuit television footage showed the pilot and passenger boarded at about 10.21am. "Several attempts were made to start the engine before the occupants disembarked," the report says.
"It was reported that an engineer, working nearby, then assisted to start the engine with a battery cart," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
The aircraft began its take-off roll at about 10.58am and climbed to about 1,100 ft. "About 4 minutes into the flight it was recorded at 800 ft, before descending steadily over the next 3 minutes," Mr Mitchell said. The last recorded data point, at 11.05am, showed the aircraft at 284 ft with a 66 kt groundspeed.
Witnesses and Wreckage
A nearby resident told investigators they were drawn to the sound of a "spluttering" engine and saw the aircraft's landing gear extend, while another witness said the aircraft "nosedived" as it turned. Home security footage recorded audio of an aircraft engine with fluctuating revolutions per minute while VH-MPT was airborne.
The propeller blades displayed damage indicative of low engine power at impact, and the landing gear was assessed as being in the down position, the report says. No pre-impact defects were identified in the limited aircraft systems and structure available for inspection after the post-impact fire. Weather conditions recorded at Archerfield at 11am were consistent with the forecast, with visibility greater than 10 km and nil rainfall.
A witness who spoke with the pilot before the flight recalled they were in a good mood and seemed "fit and well", according to the report. The aircraft was not fitted with, nor required to have, a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder.
Final Report
"The report details evidence gathered in the early phases of the ATSB's investigation to be further analysed as the investigation progresses," Mr Mitchell said in the ATSB's announcement.
Investigators will review aircraft maintenance and pilot documentation, further analyse refuelling procedures, audio recordings and post-mortem information, and examine pilot training records. The ATSB anticipates completing the investigation in the first quarter of 2027. "Should any critical safety issues be identified before then, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so timely safety action can be taken," Mr Mitchell said.
Mr Campbell, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, founded Barambah Organics in Queensland with his wife Jane, AAP reported. Tributes after the crash highlighted the family's support for their local community and Mr Campbell's contributions to the agricultural sector.