A father and his daughter were killed when their light plane crashed into a field in Chambers Flat, near Logan in southeast Queensland, on Monday shortly after 11 a.m. Ian Campbell, 56, and his daughter Hannah, 23, were on a recreational flight when their Beechcraft A36 Bonanza aircraft went down.
Staff at Brisbane's Archerfield Airport cleared the plane for takeoff at 10:57 a.m. Air traffic control recordings indicated that the plane's radio may have been experiencing issues. Flight data showed the aircraft reached 1,000 feet at 11 a.m. before experiencing difficulties. The plane then descended for approximately five minutes before crashing at 11:05 a.m.
Witnesses reported hearing the plane's engine struggling as it neared the ground. Eldjie Cojocaru told 7News, "It was flying directly over our house, quite low, and it was spluttering so it was clear that there was some engine issues. I saw it bank and it went down, and then I heard a bang." Emergency services were called to the scene after locals heard an explosion and saw smoke.
Three investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were dispatched to the crash site. Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen or heard the aircraft before the crash to come forward. Chief Superintendent Mel Adams described the scene as "very confronting."
Ian Campbell was the founder of the dairy business Barambah Organics, established in 2002. He and his wife, Jane, also part-own the company. The family are supporters of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In a previous interview, Hannah Campbell spoke about her family's passion for flying, stating, "Flying has been a big part of our married life from the very beginning." She also mentioned their shared love of seeing the landscape from above. The couple learned to fly at Archerfield in 1999, completing their pilot training together as part of their honeymoon.
Barambah Organics CEO Chris Elliott expressed the company's sadness, noting that Mr. Campbell had a significant impact on the business. Friends and family have also shared tributes, with one describing Hannah as an "angel" and remembering her positive energy.
