No fatalities

Engine Fire Leads to Belly Landing in Queensland Field (VH-BKL)

Stanthorpe, AustraliaFlight

On December 5, 1950, an Avro 652 Anson (registration VH-BKL) operated by East West Airlines - Australia was involved in an aviation accident near Stanthorpe, Australia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine fire in flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft suffered an engine fire in flight, forcing a belly landing on a property near Pozieres, Queensland. The pilot and three passengers were uninjured.

Accident Details

A twin-engine aircraft crashed during a flight from Eagle Farm Airport in Brisbane to Armidale Airport, with a planned stop at Glen Innes. The accident occurred on a property owned by Zanatta, located near Pozieres in the Southern Downs Region of Queensland. During the flight, one engine caught fire, and the cockpit filled with smoke. The aircraft subsequently made a belly landing, resulting in considerable damage to the aircraft.

Flight Path

The aircraft was en route from Eagle Farm Airport to Armidale Airport via Glen Innes when the engine fire began. The flight path included a stop at Glen Innes, but the fire occurred before reaching that destination. The pilot attempted to land the aircraft safely after the fire broke out.

Outcome

Despite the damage to the aircraft, the pilot and three passengers were uninjured. The aircraft came to rest on its belly on the property. The investigation into the accident determined that the cause was an engine fire in flight. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or date of the accident were provided in the official report.

Probable cause

Engine fire in flight.