Australia's Worst Civil Air Disaster

[Greg Hyde]

The 10th of June 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of the Mackay/Abel Tasman Air Crash. Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) VH-TFB "Abel Tasman" Flight 538 was on approach to Mackay airport in Queensland, Australia in heavy fog when it crashed into the sea with the loss of all 29 onboard.

This was TAA's first Fokker Friendship and the first to be sold outside of Europe.

Sadly nine passengers on board were schoolboy-boarders from the Rockhampton Grammar School who's families had given them a "treat" of flying home (to Mackay) for the long-weekend rather than catch the bus.

This 1960 air crash still ranks as Australia's worst air crash.

The subsequent investigation was unable to uncover a reason for the crash but recommended that civil aircraft should be fitted with both cockpit voice and data recorders. What we now known as the "Black Boxes"