Meteor – Aviation Historical Society of Australia

DerekB30/11/202327/12/2023

Outlook AHSA Newsletter November 2023

The November 2023 edition of Outlook / AHSA News was distributed to members recently. This edition can be read online in the viewer below....

1969 Piper PA-28R-180 VH-CVH operated by Civil Flying Services (W.A.) Pty Ltd crashed at Cleve, SA on 8 September 1969. For the last stage of a flight from Perth to Adelaide, the pilot planned for a flight from Ceduna to Parafield using night VMC procedures. The area forecasts indicated that the en route weather would include some areas of cloud at a height which would preclude flight at the minimum safe altitude defined by the night VMC requirements. Some rain showers and drizzle were also expected. The pilot nevertheless elected to depart Ceduna at 1805 hours CST for a flight via Cowell and Ardrossan, and encountered last light at approximately 1839 hours. Radio communication was established with Ceduna and Adelaide but propagation conditions deteriorated and effective contact with the aircraft was not made after 1852 hours. Witnesses located in areas to the north west of Cleve saw the lights of, and heard an aircraft after 1910 hours. The aircraft was observed on various headings and, at 2025 hours the lights of the aircraft were seen, very low and heading towards the higher ground of the accident site where drizzling rain was falling. The impact of the aircraft with the ground was heard and local residents quickly located the wreckage. The aircraft had flown into the ground in essentially level flight just below the top of a sandy ridge some 950 feet above sea level. The sole survivor was Antoinette Therese Atkinson. There were 3 fatalities. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website

2006 CASA confirmed on 8 September 2006 that Queensland-based Transair had entered into an enforceable voluntary undertaking (EVU) to address maintenance issues. Critics said the EVU raised questions about the efficacy of CASA's oversight of Transair and about the audit which had given the airline approval two months before the Lockhart River accident. Opposition transport spokesman Kerry O'Brien said it once again showed the need for a thorough public inquiry into CASA. Source: Steve Creedy, ‘CASA tightens via aph.gov.au website