1 fatality

Collision between two light aircraft at St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage (VH-UHS)

Melbourne-Essendon, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On June 11, 1939, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration VH-UHS) operated by Royal Victorian Aero Club was involved in an aviation accident near Melbourne-Essendon, Australia during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact causes and circumstances of the collision remain unknown. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

Two single-engine aircraft collided during takeoff preparations, resulting in one fatality and injuries to passengers from a local orphanage.

What happened

A VH-UHS De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth, operated by the Royal Victorian Aero Club, was involved in a collision with another single-engine aircraft owned by Australian National Airways. Both pilots were conducting joy flights for boys from the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage. The incident occurred while the aircraft were preparing for takeoff.

Upon impact, both planes caught fire extensively and were destroyed. The pilot of the VH-UHS was killed in the accident. Her young passenger sustained injuries. The two occupants of the other aircraft also suffered slight injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the event did not determine a definitive cause. The exact circumstances leading to the collision remain unknown.