Beech 35-C33A Debonair, VH-DEW, Barkly Downs homestead, Qld, 4 January 1974

At approximately 2020 hours EST on 4 January, 1974 a Beech
35/C33A "Debonair" aircraft, registered VH-DEW, struck the ground
in conditions of heavy rain and darkness some 1400 metres north of
Barkly Downs homestead, Queensland.

Examination of the wreckage subsequently established that the
aircraft had struck the ground on a south-westerly heading, at high
speed in a 20 to 30 degrees nose down attitude and while slightly
banked to the right. The aircraft had broken up on impact and the
wreckage trail extended about 137 metres beyond the point of
initial ground contact. There was no evidence of any pre-impact
structural failure, defect or malfunction which could have
contributed to the accident.