1 fatality

Mid-air collision between two De Havilland Moths near Adelaide (VH-UNE)

Adelaide-Parafield, AustraliaFlight

On June 23, 1934, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration VH-UNE) operated by Royal Aero Club of South Australia was involved in an aviation accident near Adelaide-Parafield, Australia in flight. One person was killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

Two single-engine De Havilland Moths collided during local training flights near Adelaide-Parafield Airport, resulting in the destruction of both aircraft and the deaths of their pilots.

What happened

A mid-air collision occurred involving two De Havilland DH.60 series aircraft operating out of Adelaide-Parafield Airport. The first aircraft, a VH-UGU De Havilland DH.60X Moth owned by Miss I. J. Bishop, was being flown by the pilot for local training purposes. Simultaneously, a second aircraft, a De Havilland DH.60M Gipsy Moth registered as VH-UNE and owned by the Royal Aero Club of South Australia, was also conducting a solo local training flight under the command of its pilot.

During these operations, the two single-engine airplanes collided in the air. Following the impact, both aircraft lost control and dove into the ground. The force of the crash resulted in the total destruction of both planes. Both pilots were killed in the accident.