iscover
After a two day search, the wreckage of missing De Havilland DH.84 Dragon VH-UXG has been found in dense bushland this afternoon, Queensland Police have confirmed.
The site, described by an AMSA spokesperson as a “high impact crash site”, was discovered at 2pm today 14km north of Borumba Dam. None of the six on board, including owner pilot and well known aviation identity Des Porter, survived the crash.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The 1934 built Dragon went missing on Monday when it was returning to Caboolture from the Monto Fly-In.
Australian Aviation extends it condolences to the families and friends of all on board.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
Air Observer
says:A truly sad day. Rest in peace.
Alan Key
says:Extremely sad news, Des was a friend who during my visits to Australia every two years, was always keen to give me and the group I was with time to see and fly in his wonderful aircraft. Whilst aircraft are to an extent replaceable (as Des proved with Riama’s rebuild), the people who perished are not.
I and my friends in the British Aviation Enthusiasts Society will miss his great hospitality, a sad loss to the vintage aviation comunity not only in Australia but all over the world.
Roy Fordham, in Cairns Qld.
says:A very sad loss for so many people in the aviation world, especially in G.A.
This gentleman has been an Icon in G.A for so many people, and will be long and very sadly missed.
My own sincere condolences to family and close friends, and those of the passengers on the flight.
deHavilland aircraft have always been a highlight of my life, as having been born walking distance, from the Stag Lane, in Edgware, Middlesex, North London, factory and airfield, I spent many hours at the airfield fence, watching and listening to the sounds of early deHavilland aircraft.
I am ex R.A.F and “Tigers were still fliyng during my service time, although never fliying them until I left the airforce, my closest airstrip being a grass strip near Hatfield.
But since loving in Australia, I have flown from airfields in Sydney, and since then, in Cairns wher I still live.
I met Des whilst being invoved with Tiger Moth joy flights and aerobatic operations for over seven years in Cains.