.jpg) Riama, the DH.84 involved in the accident, photographed in 2010 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | October 1, 2012 |
| Summary | Loss of control in poor weather |
| Site | Upper Kandanga, Queensland, Australia 26°27′21″S 152°27′15″E / 26.45583°S 152.45417°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | de Havilland DH.84 Dragon |
| Aircraft name | Riama |
| Registration | VH-UXG |
| Flight origin | Monto, Queensland, Australia |
| Destination | Caboolture Airfield, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupants | 6 |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 6 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 1 October 2012, Riama, a 1934 vintage de Havilland DH.84 Dragon passenger aircraft, crashed in Queensland, Australia, while flying from Monto to Caboolture. Radio contact was lost about an hour after the pilot reported to be in cloud with zero visibility. The wreckage was found in heavily wooded, hilly terrain two days later. The pilot and five passengers were killed in the accident.
The investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found that the pilot most likely fell victim to spatial disorientation and lost control of the aircraft. He was not qualified for instrument flight and the aircraft was not equipped for such operations. The weather at the time was reported as low clouds and rain.