AHSA Newsletter January 2017 – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

1970 Piper PA-24-260B Comanche VH-WBI operated by Alkira Aero Group Ltd crashed at Tierawoomba Homestead, QLD on 25 April 1970. The airstrip at Tierawoomba is aligned east-west, with a prepared length of 2,480 feet and it slopes up at the eastern end towards trees which limit the effective length for a landing to the west. A gully 30 feet deep crosses the western end of the strip but this is not visible from an aircraft on the ground beyond about 200 feet from the gully. There is no ground marking to delineate the limits of the strip. The pilot had sought information concerning the strip but had been given only approximate dimensions and advised that aircraft similar to the PA24 had operated from the strip. The pilot had some difficulty in locating Tierawoomba and the aircraft arrived over the homestead some 22 minutes before last light. Notwithstanding that the flight had occupied some 52 minutes longer than was planned, the aircraft was still above the maximum gross weight permitted for landing. The weather was fine and overcast, with no wind and the pilot circled the airstrip and elected to land into the west. After approaching, the aircraft appeared to float for some distance before touching down in a position from which at least 900 feet remained in which to stop the aircraft before the gully was reached. To stop the aircraft from touchdown at the correct speed of 61.5 knots, and using maximum braking in the existing conditions, would have required 830 feet. Ground marks indicated that heavy braking commenced some 150 feet from the gully, but the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it plunged into the gully and struck the nearly vertical western wall. There was 1 fatality. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website

1974 Cessna A150K Aerobat VH-DXB operated by Wonbalya Air Pty Ltd crashed at Jimba Jimba Station, WA on 25 April 1974. The aircraft was engaged in mustering sheep. On its return to the mustering area, communication was established with a stockman riding a motor cycle who was directed towards some straggling sheep. The aircraft then dived to a low height to indicate the position of the stragglers. As the aircraft pulled up from the dive the pilot said that he had lost sight of the sheep and would dive towards their position again. The aircraft again dived to a low height and climbed away with the wings level. As it commenced to level out at a height estimated as between 300 and 500 feet, the engine noise was heard to cease and it then passed out of the stockman's sight behind a tree. An impact noise was heard shortly afterwards. Examination of the wreckage Indicated that the aircraft had struck the ground in a very steep nose down attitude consistent with an uncompleted recovery from a stall. There was no evidence of any engine defect and it was established that aircraft had adequate fuel. There were 2 fatalities. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website

1985 Charles Ligeti completed the first flight of his "joined wing" ultralight Stratos aicraft on 25 April 1985. The first flight lasted for 45 minutes. The aircraft was powered by a 24 hp (18 kw) three-cylinder Konig engine and featured an extremely clean aerodynamic design. It was constructed of fibreglass with carbon fibre spar caps and Kevlar spar shear webs. The aircraft had fixed landing gear, with two main wheels mounted in tandem under the fuselage and small outrigger wheels in the wing-tips. In October 1985 the Stratos won the Crusader Cup for "best presented aircraft and highest airmanship of its operator" at the Light Weight Aircraft Association's annual ultralight fly-in at Yarrawonga, Victoria. The aircraft was taken to the United States and flown at the Experimental Aircraft Association's Airshow at Oshkosh, at the Airfair at Seattle, and the World Expo at Vancouver, in 1986. Sources: Aircraft, December 1985; Aeropedia