No fatalities

Ambulance Flight Crash After Takeoff (VH-AAS)

Hatches Creek, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On July 23, 1940, a Miles M.3B Falcon Major (registration VH-AAS) operated by Connellan Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Hatches Creek, Australia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. 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 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

An ambulance flight carrying a patient, doctor, and two pilots lost control shortly after takeoff, resulting in a crash that destroyed the aircraft while leaving all four occupants with minor injuries.

What happened

The incident involved an aircraft operating as an ambulance flight. At the time of the accident, the onboard personnel consisted of two pilots, one doctor, and one patient. The sequence of events began immediately following departure from the ground. Shortly after lift-off, the aircraft experienced a loss of control. This led to an immediate crash into the terrain. Upon impact, the airframe burst into flames, resulting in the total destruction of the machine.

Despite the severity of the fire and the structural failure, the outcome for the personnel was fortunate. All four individuals on board—the two pilots, the doctor, and the patient—sustained only slight injuries. No fatalities were reported in this event.