About eight minutes separated take-off at Archerfield Airport from the crash that killed Ian Campbell and his daughter Hannah on a Stockleigh property.
The Barambah Organics co-founder, 56, and his daughter, 23, were aboard a six-seat Beechcraft A36 Bonanza that came down on Musch Road on Monday 7 September.
Witnesses described the engine as running roughly or spluttering before the aircraft hit the ground.
As of 11 September, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau was still gathering evidence, with the cause not yet established.
Three specialists from its Brisbane office attended the site from Monday afternoon, examining the engine, propeller and flight controls.
Acting chief commissioner Colin McNamara said investigators were also seeking recording devices, including avionics equipment or GPS units, for analysis in Canberra.
“Once the aircraft and engine have been recovered they will also be available to the ATSB for further examination if required,” he said.
In a Tuesday update, he said onsite work was expected to finish that afternoon.
“Investigators will continue other evidence gathering activities including interviewing witnesses and involved parties, obtaining and analysing recorded data, and collecting aircraft maintenance and pilot records.”
“Thank you to those witnesses who have already come forward to the ATSB, a number of whom have described the aircraft’s engine as sounding like it was running rough or spluttering, which is important information for our investigators.”
A preliminary report is expected about eight weeks after the crash and the investigation’s anticipated completion is listed as the first three months of 2027.
Initial police inquiries put take-off at about 10.57am, while the safety bureau records the crash at about 11.05am.
The aircraft, registered VH-MPT, was on a private flight. It struck open ground and was destroyed by fire after impact.
Emergency services were called about 11.10am. Both occupants were declared dead at the scene.
The crash sparked a grassfire near homes, which emergency services contained.
At Monday’s police briefing, Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said no nearby residents had been injured and no other property had been damaged.
“It was a very confronting scene, as you can imagine,” she said.
“So our care at the moment is to our emergency service responders and, of course, the family when we can make contact with them.”
Weeks earlier, Ian and Hannah had trekked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea alongside Ian’s wife Jane and others, raising money and awareness for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The family’s Mañana Farms business shared photographs from the nine-day journey on Instagram.
“We loved being a part of Trek4RFDS, as the trail reminded us daily of what really matters in life,” the post said.
In a 10 September tribute, the RFDS said Ian and Jane had raised more than $100,000 across the 2022 and 2025 Outback Air Races.
RFDS Queensland section chief executive Meredith Staib paid tribute to both father and daughter.
“Ian will be remembered for his warmth and generosity, as well as his genuine care for the regional, rural and remote communities the RFDS serves, and for the people fortunate enough to know him,” she said.
“Hannah shared that same spirit, walking alongside her parents in support of a cause the family believed in deeply.”
A fourth-generation dairy farmer, Mr Campbell founded Barambah Organics with his wife.
The family also established Mañana Pastoral, producing olive oil, grass-fed lamb and beef.
Anyone with dashcam, CCTV or other video showing the aircraft in flight is urged to submit it through the ATSB witness form.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date with news from across Logan. You’ll receive a link to our digital newspaper direct to your inbox each week. It’s free.
