What happened
The incident occurred during the aircraft's inaugural multi-stop service departing Perth with stops at Geraldton and Carnarvon. After refueling at Geraldton, the pilot initiated a takeoff that initially appeared normal. However, the de Havilland DH.86 failed to gain altitude and was subsequently turned back for a landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft flew low over Royal Australian Air Force hangars at approximately 300 feet before executing a steep turn to port. It then entered a wide, low circuit with the port wing positioned lower than the starboard.
As the aircraft approached just inside the aerodrome boundary, it dropped heavily onto the starboard main undercarriage. This impact caused a bounce, followed by contact with the tail wheel and a second bounce. On the third ground contact, the port main wheel struck the surface. As the aircraft bounced higher, engine power was applied, but the machine swung sharply to the left. The resulting steep bank angle led to the left wings being torn off upon ground contact. The fuselage broke apart, ejecting most of the 11 occupants from the wreckage.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident resulted from an indifferent landing that deteriorated until the aircraft became completely out of control. The report placed primary responsibility on the pilot's handling during the final approach. However, critics noted that the panel failed to adequately address the extreme port wing drop immediately after takeoff or the reasons for the return maneuver. Additionally, the investigation acknowledged that the DH.86 type was prone to difficult-to-control swings during takeoff and landing, citing nine previous Australian accidents involving similar dynamics, yet these factors were not fully integrated into the final causal determination.