An Avro Anson W2095 from 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala, crashed into a field approx 1.5. Miles ESE of Tarlee
CREW-W2095:
29990
RICE Julian Patrick
SGT Pilot
From Jardee WA
284999
WESTON Ian Duncan
F/O Navigator
From Adelaide SA
419 836
LEWIS Cyril M
LAC Trainee Pilot
From Elwood VIC
429980
McDONALD Donald Neil
LAC Trainee Pilot
From Brisbane QLD
REPORTS:
Official summary:
W2095 was one of four aircraft that took off to undergo a night navigation exercise of two and a half hours: it carried no wireless (one completed the exercise the other two aircraft had aborted the flight and returned to Mallala earlier). During the flight the weather deteriorated badly, after flying in the vicinity of Eudunda on the last leg of his course, the pilot attempted to make his way back to Mallala. The aircraft crashed at 2305 hours. It is unknown what caused the accident, but the weather conditions were considered a primary cause of the crash.
Eyewitness:
Report 1 who was watching from his farm:
"It was a dirty night, between half ten and eleven, he came in low from the northwest towards our farm and circled the town. He then came in low over the oval and clipped the tops of the big gums we used to have around the oval, he tried to pull her up, it lifted a bit then dove straight into the paddock, we all ran to see if we could help but it burned as soon as it hit the ground, the poor buggers. We only found three bodies that night, we found the fourth bloke next day. I said to my mate that the left engine was on fire, but he said it was probably the exhaust, the engines were making a hell of a noise, really screaming they were."
Report 2 who was watching from his house:
"It didn't sound right, that's why I went out to in front yard, you couldn't see him at first, he was up in the clouds flying around, he came out of the clouds and it sounded like his engines were flat out as he headed across the oval, I think he might have hit one of the gums because the plane sort of jerked up and then dived into the paddock behind the town. Along with others that had seen or heard the plane we went to the crash, it was burning. You couldn't save anyone, a couple of bodies lay nearby."
Report 3 school boy:
"I heard the plane, it came close to our house then crashed, it sounded like a big thump. We went over after school the next day but it was nearly all burnt up and the police had a very tight security around the wreck and we couldn't get too close."
BURIALS/CREMATIONS
Cemetery
Plot
Row
Grave
Lewis C.M.
Mallala War Cemetery
B
D
3
McDonald D.N.
Mallala War Cemetery
B
D
4
Rice J.P.
Mallala War Cemetery
B
D
2
Weston I.D.
Mallala War Cemetery
B
D
1
