What happened
A DH.114 Heron operated by Butler Air Transport departed Sydney-Mascot at 14:00 local time to perform a scheduled newspaper delivery service. The flight plan included several stops, specifically Taree, Kempsey, Armidale, and Glen Innes.
At 14:37, the crew provided a position update to ground personnel and estimated an arrival in Taree at 15:01. However, shortly after this communication, the aircraft struck trees and crashed within a heavily forested region approximately 10 km north of the Chichester Dam. Following the failure of the flight to reach its destination, search and rescue operations were initiated. These efforts continued for two weeks before being called off due to the lack of any visible debris or survivors.
The wreckage remained lost for over a year until December 22, 1955, when a pilot flying another DH.114 Heron identified the crash site near a summit, roughly 20 feet below the peak. The impact resulted in three fatalities, involving all occupants on board.
Findings
- The aircraft crashed after making contact with trees during flight.