DH104 Series 5 Aircraft VH-WST and PA30-160B Aircraft VH-WWB, near Bankstown Airport NSW, 13 March, 1974

At approximately 1537 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 13 March 1974, a De Havilland Dove DH1D4 Series 5 aircraft, registered VH-WST, and a Piper Twin Comanche PA30-160B aircraft, registered VH-WWB, collided in flight above a point 3 225 metres north of Bankstown Airport, Sydney, New South Wales.

The Dove aircraft had taken-off from Bankstown Airport and was orbiting the airport at about 1 500 feet above terrain before proceeding to Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport. Some two minutes later the Twin Comanche aircraft also took-off from Bankstown Airport and was proceeding to a training area in the vicinity of Camden. The collision occurred in the Bankstown Control Zone in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), and both aircraft were operating under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

Following the mid-air impact, both aircraft fell to the ground in a residential area of the suburb of Bass Hill, causing damage to houses and other property. The sole occupant of the Dove aircraft and the three occupants of the Twin Comanche aircraft were killed. Both aircraft were destroyed by the collision and ground impact.