CAC Plant Reports 1941, numbers 86 – 97

The CAC Plant Reports for the second half of 1941 are shown in the viewer below. Click on the >> symbol for printing or downloading options.

Click here to view full-screen (opens in a new tab)

1992 Beechcraft 58 Baron VH-HSZ operated by Gaetano Palermo crashed at near Geraldton, Western Australia on 25 August 1992. The aircraft departed Denham for travel to Perth via a refuelling stop at Geraldton. At about 0806 hours the aircraft crashed approximately 770 metres, bearing 347°M from the threshold of runway 21 at Geraldton, apparently out of control and with the stall warning audible throughout the final radio transmission. Investigation indicated that both engines had stopped prior to impact due to fuel exhaustion. There were no indications of fuel leaks, and an analysis of times flown by the aircraft preceding the crash revealed that the available fuel should have been exhausted at about the time the engines were reported to have stopped. Fuel was available at Denham but, for unknown reasons, was not utilised by the pilot. The pilot did not lodge a flight plan with the Civil Aviation Authority nor was any evidence found in the wreckage to indicate that the pilot had used a flight plan or fuel log enroute. No conclusive determination for the loss of control of the aircraft was reached, however, the proximity to the threshold of runway 21 and the configuration of the aircraft with the wheels down, suggests that the pilot may have been attempting to turn towards that runway for a glide approach and landing. Sources: ATSB; aviation-safety.net website

2022 In his findings into the death of Nikita Walker Tasmanian Coroner Simon Cooper found that an ATSB investigation into the December 2018 crash of Par Avion Pilatus Britten-Norman BN2A-20 Islander VH-OBL lacked "much by way of reasoning, is largely speculative and is, from my perspective at least, of little forensic value". The Coroner's findings were released on 25 August 2022 and noted the following" "the aircraft was serviceable; Ms Walker was sufficiently experienced and appropriately qualified. She was well rested and unaffected by either drugs or alcohol. Why she flew into the Western Portal is not something the evidence enables me to determine with any real certainty. I consider the clear evidence relating to her flight path immediately before the crash makes it obvious Ms Walker was attempting to avoid crashing by trying to find a break in the weather. It follows that I am satisfied that her death was due to misadventure, that is, an accident." Mr Cooper made the following comments about the ATSB investigation report “One other obvious problem with the report … is that there is no indication of the author or author’s qualification to express the opinions and conclusions contained in it. In fact, there is even no indication as to the identity of the author or authors. Perhaps most surprisingly, despite the fact that it was investigating an aircraft crash, the ATSB report does not appear to attempt to establish, at all, the reason for the crash. In short, the ATSB report was of so little use as to be, from my perspective, in the performance of my obligations under the Coroner's Act 1995, worthless. I have no regard to it, other than in a general sense, and specifically disregard the findings it contains." Sources: Tasmanian Magistrates Court, Record of Investigation into Death (With Inquest) https://www.magistratescourt.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/673639/Walker,-Nikita-Jo-SJC-signed-25.08.2022.pdf; ABC News Coroner finds 2018 death of pilot Nikita Walker in Tasmania 'an accident', ATSB report slammed