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De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident at Coolibah, Australia, 21 Oct 1949 (VH-UZY)

Coolibah, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On October 21, 1949, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration VH-UZY) operated by Connellan Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Coolibah, Australia during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was probably the result of severe turbulences and reduced performance due to a high density altitude. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was probably the result of severe turbulences and reduced performance due to a high density altitude.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot George C. 'Colin' Johnston was performing a flight from Wyndham to Tennant Creek with an intermediate stop in Coolibah, NT. The twin engine aircraft landed at 1210LT and some mail was delivered to the pilot who took off at 1300LT. Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot was killed.

Probable cause (official findings): The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was probably the result of severe turbulences and reduced performance due to a high density altitude.

Related events

Same operator

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