CAC Plant Reports 1938, numbers 12 – 22

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1973 Victa Airtourer 100 VH-MUH crashed at Tumby Bay, SA on 8 October 1973. The aircraft had been parked at the western boundary of the take-off area and, after starting the engine, the pilot taxied to a position on the southern side of the take-off area which he estimated to be 2,000 feet from the western end but, during Investigation, this distance was found to be only 1,600 feet. The Flight Manual of the aircraft required a distance of 1, 840 feet to be available for this take-off under the conditions which existed at the time. The wind was from the north-west and was gusting to about 20 knots and the pilot decided to take-off in a westerly direction, but angled at about 15 degrees across the area so that the take-off would be more nearly Into wind. The distance available between the selected point for commencement of take-off and the point at which this take-off path intersected the northern boundary fence, was subsequently established as 1,100 feet. The take-off was commenced and the aircraft was not airborne as It approached the northern boundary fence. It was turned slightly to the left and the take-off run continued close and parallel to the fence until the aircraft became airborne in a nose high attitude with the tail bumper striking the ground. It then began a further turn to the left during which the port wing tip grazed the ground for a distance of almost 90 feet. After recovering to about a laterally level attitude, on a south-westerly heading, the aircraft touched down heavily, bounced and again touched down heavily before becoming airborne In the direction of a group of trees located outside the western boundary of the take-off area. The port wing then contacted a post in the boundary fence and the undercarriage picked up the top strand of wire. The aircraft crashed into the base of the trees and came to rest after the starboard wing root struck a substantial tree which penetrated the right hand side of the cockpit structure. There was one fatality. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website

1986 The Staunton Report of the Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry into the Relations Between the CAA and Seaview Air, tabled in Parliament on 8 October 1996, was particularly scathing of CAA operations and identified a number of systemic problems. Recommendations included action against two CAA officers, and suggested mechanisms for responsibility, accountability and documentation. The minister urged changes to CASA and its management board positions. BASI undertook a separate investigation of the incident. Source: House of Representatives, Debates, 8 and 9 October 1996, p. 5046; Sydney Morning Herald and Australian 9 October 1996. via aph.gov.au website

2002 Wilhelm Ewig (AUS) set a record for "Speed over a recognised course" (in the category of Powered Aeroplanes C-1a, Landplanes with take off weight 300 to 500 kg) of 213.06 km/h on 8 October 2002 for his flight from Manilla (NSW) to Brisbane (Queensland) in a Wolfgang Dallach Flugzeugbau Fascination WD4. Source: FAI Records website, ID=7534