At 0341 hours EST on 6 July 1989, Beech 70 Queenair aircraft registered VH-XAE collided with high voltage power lines and descended rapidly, contacting the ground three kilometres north-east of Tolmie. The pilot, who was the only occupant, received fatal injuries. There was no fire. The aircraft was on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne cruising at 8000 feet. Persons in the accident area heard an aircraft flying very low over their houses, then observed a flash of light and heard the sound of ground impact. A ground search was commenced but due to falling snow and very poor visibility the wreckage was not found until about 0745 hours in daylight. The elevation of the ground at the accident site was approximately 2700 feet above sea level. The accident site was located at co-ordinates 36`55'south, 146`17'east.
