Aviation watchdog delivers early report into double fatal Logan plane crash
Barambah Organics founder Ian Campbell and his daughter Hannah died when a plane they were travelling in crashed in a field in Stockleigh, south of Brisbane.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released an early report into a tragic light plane crash that claimed the lives of Barambah Organics founder Ian Campbell and his 23-year-old daughter Hannah in September. The report revealed that Campbell had difficulty starting the aircraft's engine before takeoff. A final investigation report will be published once all inquiries are concluded.
The Beechcraft A36 Bonanza aircraft, carrying Campbell and his daughter, departed from Archerfield Airport just before 11 am on September 7, with St George as the intended destination. Minutes into the flight, the light plane began to descend and crashed into a field in Stockleigh, south of Brisbane at 11:05 am.
Residents reported hearing the engine splutter and witnessing the aircraft's landing gear extend, while others claimed the plane nosedived. CCTV footage showed Campbell and Hannah boarding the aircraft around 10:20 am, but they had to disembark following several unsuccessful attempts to start the engine. An engineer from a nearby hangar assisted the pilot in starting the engine using a battery cart, according to the ATSB report.
The ATSB determined that Campbell held a valid private pilot's license, which is valid until 2026. He had last conducted a flight review in 2024, and his class 2 aviation medical certificate, mandatory for the use of a private pilot's license, expired the day after the accident. A witness who spoke with the pilot prior to the flight described him as being in a good mood and appearing fit and well.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, with the ATSB set to complete further analysis of audio recordings, post-mortem information, and pilot training records. The final report will be released when the investigations are completed. The Campbell family, renowned farmers for generations, were based in the South Burnett region for over a century.
Ian Campbell founded Barambah Organics, a family-owned dairy company in Queensland, alongside his wife Jane. The family recently established Mañana Pastoral in the Goondiwindi region, producing extra virgin olive oil, grass-fed lamb, and beef. Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the family's significant contributions to the local community through their charitable work.
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