This Day in History: 1997-10-03

Mooney M20J VH-KUE operated crashed 113 km NNE of Balranald, NSW on 3 October 1997. The aircraft was being flown from Adelaide to Dubbo in accordance with instrument flight rules. At 1921 EST, the pilot reported over Mildura maintaining 9,000 ft, and estimating abeam Griffith at 2026 on a direct track to Dubbo. The weather in the area was clear, with no restrictions to visibility, and scattered cloud at 30,000 ft. Sky conditions were dark, with no moon. At 1958 the pilot made a routine frequency change, and 8 minutes later advised Melbourne Flight Service (FS) there had been a loss of vacuum and that he was returning to Mildura. In response to enquiries from FS the pilot advised that he had ‘electric backups’ and felt it safer to return to Mildura. He also confirmed his approach and landing would not be affected, and that his estimated time of arrival would be 2029. At 2007 FS asked the pilot for his approximate distance from Mildura. The pilot asked FS to repeat the request, but subsequently failed to reply. Further attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful. The last recorded radio transmission from the pilot was at 2007:49. An uncertainty phase was declared after communication and ground checks failed to establish the location of the aircraft. A local resident reported seeing the lights of an aircraft shortly after 2000, and then hearing the sounds of an impact. The wreckage of the aircraft was subsequently found some hours later. The accident was non-survivable. An examination of the wreckage indicated the aircraft had impacted the ground at high speed, in a steep nose-down attitude, consistent with loss of control. With the exception of the vacuum system, the aircraft was considered to have been capable of normal operation prior to impact. There were 3 fatalities. Sources: ATSB investigation number 199703221; aviation-safety.net website