{"id":377348,"date":"2026-11-04T15:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T05:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=377348"},"modified":"2026-11-04T15:15:45","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T05:15:45","slug":"witnesses-heard-plane-spluttering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/11\/04\/witnesses-heard-plane-spluttering\/","title":{"rendered":"Witnesses Heard Plane ‘Spluttering’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The flightpath of the Beechcraft A36 Bonanza on September 8 (Source: Google Earth, annotated by the ATSB)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The late Ian Campbell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 4, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its preliminary report into the plane crash which killed Barambah Organics founder Ian Campbell and his daughter Hannah.<\/p>\n

The report notes that CCTV footage showed Mr Campbell, 56, and Hannah, 23, boarding the Beechcraft A36 Bonanza aircraft at Archerfield Airport at 10:21am on September 8 after a pre-flight inspection.<\/p>\n

“Several attempts were made to start the engine before the occupants disembarked,” the report continued.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It was reported that an engineer from a nearby hangar then assisted to start the engine with a battery cart.”<\/p>\n

The aircraft taxied from the apron about 10:41am and began its take-off roll about 10:58am.<\/p>\n

It climbed to about 1100 feet and maintained that for a short period before beginning to descend.<\/p>\n

About 11:05am, the aircraft crossed the Logan River at 600ft.<\/p>\n

“A nearby resident to the accident site stated they were drawn to the sound of a \u2018spluttering\u2019 engine and observed the aircraft\u2019s landing gear extend,” the report stated.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The aircraft then \u2018dropped\u2019 and collided with terrain, however, they were not in a position to observe the collision.<\/p>\n

“Another witness also observed the final stages of the flight and reported that as the aircraft turned it \u2018nosedived\u2019, however trees prevented them from seeing the impact.<\/p>\n

“Numerous other witnesses reported they observed an aircraft flying low and heard the engine spluttering around the time of the accident.”<\/p>\n

The flight had been heading to St George Airport.<\/p>\n

The investigation into the cause of the fatal incident is continuing.<\/p>\n

The Campbell family was well-known in the South Burnett and the wider rural industry.<\/p>\n

Mr Campbell and his wife Jane founded Barambah Organics almost 30 years ago, a dairy company based initially around the couple\u2019s Spring Creek farm at Manyung, near Murgon.<\/p>\n