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...

1980 At 1909 hours on 21 February 1980, Beech Super King Air 200 VH-AAV collided with the western sea wall enclosing the extension of Runway 16/34, abeam the Runway 34 threshold, at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, NSW. The aircraft broke apart on impact and there was an explosive fire. The pilot and all twelve passengers were killed. The accident occurred approximately 106 seconds after the aircraft had commenced take-off from Runway 25, on a scheduled flight to Temora, NSW. The cause of the accident has not been determined, but the most likely explanation is that the aircraft was operated in a reduced power configuration which, under the prevailing conditions, rendered its single-engine performance critical in respect to aircraft handling. Source: ATSB website https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1980/aair/aair198001471/

1983 Cessna 402 VH-DIL operated by Sunshine Coast Air Charter crashed at Nagoorin, Boyne Valley, near Gladstone, Queensland on 21 February 1983. There was 1 fatality and the aircraft was written off. The aircraft was engaged in operating a night freight flight from Brisbane to Gladstone and Rockhampton. The pilot departed Rockhampton as a passenger in another company aircraft at about 2100 hours the night before the accident and was flown to Caloundra. He then flew VH-DIL to Brisbane and after arriving submitted a flight plan for the return flight to Rockhampton giving an estimated time of departure Brisbane of 0230 hours. Before departure, however, the pilot was required to await the arrival of another aircraft so that freight could be transhipped to his aircraft. Departure from Brisbane was made at 0301 hours and at 0400 hours the pilot reported the aircraft's position over Gayndah, the pilot was instructed to call on another radio frequency at 0410 hours. No further transmissions were heard from the aircraft. The wreckage was located two days later in mountainous terrain. The aircraft had impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude. Subsequent investigation did not reveal any fault with the aircraft or its systems that could have contributed to the accident. Sources: ATSB website and aviation-safety.net website

1992 Cessna 310R VH-PAJ crashed at 15km NW Muswellbrook, NSW on 21 February 1992. The aircraft was on a charter flight from Maitland to Scone, NSW. There was 1 fatality and the aircraft was destroyed. Sources: ATSB website and aviation-safety.net website

2006 Robinson R44 Astro VH-HBS operated by North Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd crashed at 10 km west of Gunpowder Mine, Mount Gordon, Queensland on 21 February 2006. The R44 was being operated on a series of aerial survey flights approximately 100 km to the north of Mt Isa Airport, Qld. The helicopter was operating from Gunpowder airstrip and had completed three flights by 1254 Eastern Standard Time. The pilot refuelled the helicopter and at 1341 departed for a survey flight with three passengers on board. When the helicopter did not arrive at a pre-arranged rendezvous point, a search was initiated. Searchers found the burnt wreckage of the helicopter the next day. The four occupants were fatally injured. The helicopter had impacted the ground with significant force in a nose-down, fuselage-level attitude. The main rotor displayed evidence of low rotational energy and coning. Other than impact and fire damage, there were no identified mechanical defects or abnormalities. There was evidence that the engine was rotating at impact, but the amount of engine power being developed was not able to be established. The previous aerial survey flights were reported to have included low speed flight and occasional hovering. At the estimated helicopter weight and the prevailing air density, the helicopter did not have the performance to hover at the survey altitude, which was estimated to be about 1,000 ft above ground level. The investigation considered that the helicopter probably descended contrary to the pilot's intentions, possibly influenced by a partial engine power loss or downdraft, and induced the pilot to apply collective, which developed into overpitching and ultimately main rotor stall. The investigation found that the helicopter was being operated at gross weights that exceeded the specified maximum take-off weight. The investigation also found that the operator's procedures did not provide a high level of assurance that a relatively low time pilot could conduct aerial survey operations safely.There were 4 fatalities and the aircraft was written off. Sources: ATSB website and aviation-safety.net website

2017 Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft VH-ZCR crashed after taking off from Essendon airport on 21 February 2017. The aircraft was conducting a charter passenger flight from Essendon Airport, Victoria to King Island, Tasmania with four passengers on board. The aircraft’s take-off roll was longer than expected and a yaw to the left was observed after rotation. The aircraft’s track began diverging to the left of the runway centreline before rotation and the divergence increased as the flight progressed. The aircraft entered a shallow climb followed by a substantial left sideslip with minimal roll. The aircraft then began to descend and the pilot transmitted a Mayday call. The aircraft subsequently collided with a building in the Bulla Road Precinct Retail Outlet Centre of Essendon Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post-impact fire, and all on board were fatally injured. The building was severely damaged and two people on the ground received minor injuries. Source: ATSB website https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5775076/ao-2017-024_final_v2.pdf