Outlook AHSA Newsletter November 2023

DerekB30/11/202327/12/2023

The November 2023 edition of Outlook / AHSA News was distributed to members recently.

This edition can be read online in the viewer below.

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1944 Bristol Beaufighter TF Mk X A19-208 operated by 31 Squadron RAAF went missing near Pine Creek, Northern Territory on 24 September 1944. The aircraft went missing on its return from escort duty when Coomalie was covered by smoke from bushfires. A19-208 failed to respond to flares, searchlights and radio and radar tracked it until it dived off the radar screen east of Fenton. No trace of the two crew were found although wreckage was discovered at Pine Creek about 12 months later. The crew were pilot SQNLDR W.L. Wackett and navigator PLTOFF K.E.W. Noble. SQNLDR Wackett was the son of Sir Lawrence Wackett, aircraft designer. Sources: ADF-Serials; aviation-safety.net website

1976 Piper PA-28-180 VH-AGG crashed 10km north of Burra, SA on 24 September 1976. The pilot submitted a flight plan for a VFR flight from Strathalbyn to Ayers Rock with intermediate landings at Leigh Creek and Oodnadatta. After departure, the pilot established radio communication with the Adelaide Flight Service Unit and advised that he was climbing to 3500 feet. At 0728 hours he reported his position as Mount Pleasant and that he was descending to 3000 feet to remain in VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions). Three minutes later he reported descending to 2500 feet and at 0745 hours, that his position was Eudunda. The last transmission received from the aircraft was at 0746 hours when the pilot acknowledged a frequency transfer instruction. At approximately 0800 hours an aircraft was observed to approach the township of Burra (elevation approximately 1540 feet) from the south and make a 360 degree turn to the left. The aircraft was at an estimated height of 300 feet, below overcast cloud, and it departed Burra on a northerly heading towards the hilly terrain surrounding Mount Cone (elevation 2601 feet) where there was extensive low cloud and fog. Several minutes later the high pitched sound of an aircraft engine was heard and an aircraft was briefly observed to emerge from cloud at high speed and disappear behind a hill immediately to the west of Mount Cone. The sound of a crash was then heard. VH-AGG struck the ground at high speed on the northern slope of a hill. It was in a steep nosedown attitude on a northerly heading at the time of impact. Detailed examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any or malfunction which may have contributed to the accident. The Accident Investigation Summary Report noted the probable cause of the accident was that the pilot persisted with the flight into weather conditions in which he was not able to maintain the visual reference required for him to retain control of the aircraft. There were 4 fatalities. Source: ATSB

2004 The Airservices Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bernie Smith, called for an end to alarmist and unsubstantiated statements being levelled against the national air traffic control corporation its staff and management and other members of the aviation community on 24 September 2004. The call came after statements made by aviator Mr Dick Smith on capital radio stations. Source: ASA, media release 24/04, 24 September 2004. via aph.gov.au website