CAC Mustang – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB27/04/202204/06/2023

The Aircraft Projects of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation

This new book by author and AHSA member Joe Vella has just been published (April 2022). Joe began writing this book in 1983 when...

DerekB29/09/202027/12/2022

Australian-built Aircraft and the Industry (Vol 2) by Keith Meggs

The latest book released by author Keith Meggs Volume 2 of this encyclopaedic work (containing only one chapter, being chapter 15, spread across two...

1945 Bristol Beaufighter Mk 21 A8-245 operated by 92 Sqn RAAF crashed into an irrigation canal, near Narrandera, New South Wales on 3 September 1945. 92 Squadron began demobilising shortly after the end of the war. Some flying continued, however, and A8-245 crashed on an unauthorised flight while taking six airmen from an RAAF repair and maintenance unit located in Narrandera on a joy flight. The aircraft struck an electric high tension line with port wing tip and crashed into an irrigation canal, the wreckage ending up partially submerged in water. Those who lost their lives in the accident were WOFF Leslie Hunter JORGENSEN (pilot), WOFF (Aus.4594) Henry Thomas George GRIFFIN, SGT (Aus.15235) Harold Stewart CURRIE, SGT (Aus.5668) Albert Victor WHITTINGTON, SGT (Aus.37964) Norman John BAILEY, CPL (Aus.68720) Hilton George SHUNG, and LAC (Aus.149756) Robert Lindsay NORTON. Sources: ADF-Serials; aviation-safety.net website

1986 Cessna 402 VH-RED operated by Peninsula Air Services crashed 2km NNW of Essendon airport, Victoria on 3 September 1986. The flight was intended to return patients to their home area following medical treatment in Melbourne. After an apparently normal take-off, the aircraft ceased climbing at about 100 feet above ground level. In response to a query from the control tower, the pilot advised that the left engine had failed, that he was feathering the propeller and would return for landing. The aircraft was seen to be deviating to the left, towards a large array of power lines. These lines extend from about 40 feet to 90 feet above the ground, and as the aircraft converged with the array it was probably below the height of the upper wires. The aircraft then suddenly veered to the left and subsequently struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. A fire broke out on impact and destroyed much of the wreckage. The final manoeuvre performed by the aircraft was typical of that which occurs when one engine of a twin-engine aircraft is producing considerably less power than the other, and airspeed is reduced to below that required to maintain directional control. The pilot had reported that the left engine had failed, and the loss of control as described by witnesses was consistent with a reduction of power from this engine, combined with low airspeed. The investigation of the accident was hampered by the extent of the fire damage. However, an extensive technical examination did not reveal any evidence of a defect or malfunction with either the engines, the various systems or the airframe which might have contributed to the accident. Although the pilot had indicated that he was feathering the left propeller, it was determined that the propeller was not feathered at the time of the accident. It was not possible to establish if the pilot had subsequently elected not to initiate feathering action, or whether such action was initiated too late for it to be completed before impact with the ground. The reason for the loss of performance reported by the pilot could not be established. It is likely that while the aircraft was being manoeuvred to avoid the power lines and return for a landing, the airspeed decayed to below the minimum required to enable adequate control of the aircraft to be maintained. At the point where control of the aircraft was lost, there was insufficient height available for the pilot to effect recovery. The reason continued flight was attempted, rather than a controlled forced landing in open areas prior to the power lines, could not be determined. There were 6 fatalities. Sources: ATSB Investigation number 198601430; aviation-safety.net website

2009 In a breakdown of separation near Mildura, an air traffic controller failed to keep clear an Emirates Boeing 777 with 293 persons on board from a Qantas Boeing 737 with 150 people on board. The Qantas flight was tracking east to west from Sydney to Adelaide. The Emirates flight was tracking SSE to NNW from Melbourne to Singapore. The aircraft were on crossing tracks with both cruising at flight level (FL) 300. The ATSB found that the controller's technique for scanning and assessing traffic for conflicts was ineffective. Source: B Sandilands, ‘How Airservices Australia nearly killed 443 people’, Plane Talking Blog, 24 November 2010 and ATSB, ‘Investigation Number: AO-2009-056’, Aviation Safety Investigations and Reports, Canberra, 24 November 2010. via aph.gov.au website