Aviation watchdog delivers early report into double fatal Logan plane crash

Report finds aircraft in fatal Logan crash had engine issues before taking off In short: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has delivered a preliminary report into a light plane crash that killed Barambah Organics founder Ian Campbell and his daughter Hannah in September. The report found Mr Campbell had struggled to start the aircraft's engine before taking off. What's next? A final report will be published once investigations conclude. An aircraft involved in a crash that killed the founder of a popular dairy company and his daughter had engine troubles before taking off, a preliminary report has found. Barambah Organics founder Ian Campbell, 56, and his daughter Hannah Campbell, 23, died on September 7 when a plane they were travelling in crashed in a field in Stockleigh, south of Brisbane. In its preliminary report, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the Beechcraft A36 Bonanza aircraft took off from Archerfield Airport just before 11am and was due to fly to St George. The light plane began to descend minutes into its journey and crashed at 11:05am. A nearby resident told the ATSB they heard a "spluttering" engine sound and saw the aircraft's landing gear extend, while another witness said the aircraft "nosedived". Engine unable to start CCTV showed Mr Campbell and Ms Campbell boarded the aircraft just after 10:20am but had to disembark following several failed attempts to start the engine. "It was reported that an engineer from a nearby hangar then assisted to start the engine with a battery cart," the report noted. When assessing the wreckage after the crash, the ATSB found the aircraft's propeller blades "displayed back bending and low rotational damage", indicative of a low engine power setting at impact. Pilot 'fit and well' Mr Campbell held a private pilot's licence, valid until 2026, and last conducted a flight review in 2024, the ATSB determined. His class 2 aviation medical certificate, required for the use of a private pilot's licence, was due to expire the day after the accident. "A witness who spoke with the pilot prior to the flight recalled they were in a good mood and seemed 'fit and well'," the ATSB wrote. Investigations into the crash remain underway, with the ATSB expected to complete further analysis of audio recordings and other recorded data, post-mortem information and pilot training records. A final report will be published when investigations are complete. Campbell family 'generous' members of community The Campbell family have been farmers for many generations and were based in the South Burnett region for more than 100 years. Mr Campbell founded Barambah Organics, a family owned dairy company in Queensland, alongside his wife, Jane. More recently, the Campbell family founded Mañana Pastoral in the Goondiwindi region. The farm produces extra virgin olive oil, as well as grass-fed lamb and beef. Speaking after the incident, Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg said the tragedy was "unfathomable". "We feel their grief deeply and what makes it also so hard is that the Campbell family were so generous in their support of the local community,"he said. Mr Springborg said the Campbell family had raised more than $70,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and invested in agriculture.