Oceania

The twin engine aircraft departed Mount Hagen Airport on a cargo flight to Kamusi, carrying two passengers, one pilot and a load of vegetables. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of about 100 feet, the engine lost power. At a speed of 50 knots, the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck the ground, rolled for about 80 metres and collided with rocks. All three occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

On final approach, at a height of about 250 feet, the pilot selected flaps down when the aircraft went unstable, stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. The pilot was injured.

The pilot had planned to conduct a night charter flight over Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay, starting from and returning to Essendon Airport. Dinner was to be served in flight. The pilot gave a safety briefing to the passengers before starting the engines. He completed engine runups and pre-takeoff checks, including selecting 20° of flap. At 2036 ESuT, in daylight, the pilot initiated takeoff on runway 17 using standard take-off power setting of 7.5 lb/in2 of boost and 3,000 RPM. Wind conditions were light and variable, visibility was about 10 km and the temperature was 19°C. The aircraft became airborne and, just as it achieved the take-off safety speed of 84 kts, at a height not above 50 ft, the right engine lost power. The aircraft yawed right. The pilot reported to the investigation team that he briefly noticed a reading of 3 lb of boost on the MAP gauge and assessed the problem as a possible partial right engine failure. He then selected the landing gear up but it did not retract. He cycled the landing gear selector once and the gear then retracted. By this time several seconds had elapsed and the airspeed had decayed to 76 kts. The pilot then assessed the airspeed as too low to retract the flaps and left them at 20°. The airspeed continued to decay until VMCA, 72 kts, was reached. When indicated airspeed had further decayed to 68 kts, the pilot reduced power on the left engine to avoid an uncontrollable roll to the right. He was able to maintain wings level and attempted to track the aircraft toward a street but was unable to maintain height. The aircraft collided with powerlines and then struck the roofs of several houses before coming to rest, on its left side, against the front wall of a house. About one minute had elapsed from initiation of takeoff until the accident. The pilot and all but one of the passengers remained conscious throughout the accident sequence. All occupants were evacuated, some without assistance and others with the assistance of the pilot, other passengers, emergency services personnel or bystanders.

The aircraft had been chartered to fly a German group to a number of tourist destinations in New Zealand. It had departed from Glentanner on a VFR flight to Queenstown. The flight was to include scenic flying in the Mount Cook region. A 'taxiing' call was received at 1153 hours but later attempts by Christchurch Flight Information to communicate with the aircraft were unsuccessful. Aircraft wreckage, which proved to be that of ZK-NOM, was sighted during the afternoon in a severely crevassed and pinnacled area of Franz Josef Glacier, at an elevation of 4,500 feet amsl. The crew and passengers had all sustained fatal injuries on impact.

After takeoff from Bank Airstrip, while climbing in the Simbai Valley, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed about 5,3 km from Bank Airfield. All four occupants were killed.

Members of a football club had planned to visit Launceston, travelling by light aircraft. Three aircraft were needed to carry the group, with all passengers and pilots contributing to the cost of the aircraft hire. One of the club members, who was a pilot, organised the required aircraft and additional pilots for departure from Moorabbin Airport on the afternoon of 17 September 1993. The operator from whom the aircraft were hired, who also employed the organising pilot as an instructor, arranged for one Piper PA-23 (VH-PAC), a Piper PA-31-310 (VH-NOS) and a Piper PA-31-350 (VH-WGI) to be available for the trip, with the organising pilot to fly VH-WGI. On the day of the flight the pilot of VH-WGI carried out pre-flight inspections, obtained the weather forecasts and submitted flight plans for all three aircraft. The flight plans for the two PA-31 aircraft were for flights operated in accordance with IFR procedures. The PA-23 was to operate in accordance with VFR procedures. The TAF for Launceston predicted 2 octas of stratocumulus cloud, base 2,000 ft and 3 octas of stratocumulus cloud, base 3,500 ft. The flight plan for VH-WGI (see fig. 2) indicated that the aircraft would track Moorabbin Wonthaggi-Bass-Launceston and cruise at an altitude of 9,000 ft. A cruise TAS of 160 kts, total plan flight time of 90 minutes, endurance 155 minutes and Type of Operation 'G' (private category flight) were specified. No alternate aerodrome was nominated and none was required. The estimated time of departure was 1730. The flight plan was submitted to the CAA by facsimile at 1529. Last light at Launceston was 1919. VH-WGI departed Moorabbin at 1817 and climbed to an en-route cruise altitude of 9,000 ft. The pilot was required to report at Wonthaggi but passed this position at 1832 without reporting. Melbourne ATC tried unsuccessfully to contact the pilot because of this missed report. Later, the Melbourne radar controller noticed the aircraft deviating left of track but was unable to make contact. Communications were re-established at 1858 when the pilot called Melbourne FS saying he had experienced a radio problem. By this time the aircraft heading had been corrected to regain track. At 1927 the pilot called Launceston Tower and was cleared for a DME arrival along the inbound track of the Launceston VOR 325 radial. The Launceston ATIS indicated 2 octas of cloud at 800 ft, QNH 1,012 hPa, wind 320° at 5-10 kts, temperature +10° and runway 32 in use. At 1930 the ADC advised the pilot that the 2 octas of cloud were clear of the inbound track, but that there was some lower cloud forming just north of the field, possibly on track. He informed the pilot that there was a chance he might not be visual by the VOR, in which case he would need to perform an ILS approach via the Nile locator beacon. The ADC contacted the airport meteorological observer at 1933, inquiring as to what the 1930 searchlight check of cloud height had revealed. He was told the observation indicated 7 octas of cloud at about 800 ft. At 1935.52 (time in hours, minutes and seconds) the ADC asked the pilot for his DME (distance) and level. The pilot responded that he was at 12 DME and 3,300 ft. The ADC told the pilot that conditions were deteriorating with probably 4 octas at 800 ft at the field. He then told the pilot he would hopefully get a break in the cloud, but then restated that if he was not visual by the VOR to make a missed approach, track to Nile and climb to 3,000 ft. At 1939.45 the pilot was again asked for his DME and level. He indicated that he was at 1,450 ft and 2-3 DME. He then also confirmed that he was still in IMC. There were three other aircraft inbound for Launceston and the ADC made an all-stations broadcast that conditions were deteriorating at Launceston, with 4 octas at 800 ft, and to expect an ILS approach. At 1940.56 the pilot stated that he was overhead the field, but did not have it sighted and was going around. At 1941.07 the pilot reported that he had the airfield in sight and at 1941.16 that he was positioned above the final approach for runway 32. Fifteen seconds later the pilot reported that he was opposite the tower and was advised by the ADC that he was cleared for a visual approach, or a missed approach to Nile as preferred. The pilot indicated he would take the visual approach and was then told to manoeuvre as preferred for runway 32. This was acknowledged at 1941.48. No further communications were received from the pilot. The ADC made a broadcast to two other inbound aircraft at 1942.32, advising that VH-WGI was in the circuit ahead of them, that it had become visual about half a mile south of the VOR, that it was manoeuvring for a visual approach and was just in and out of the base of the cloud. After the pilot of VH-WGI reported over the field, and the aircraft first appeared out of cloud, witnesses observed it track to about the south-east end of the aerodrome at a height of about 500-800 ft. It then turned left to track north-west on the north-east side of the main runway and approximately over the grass runway. The aircraft was seen to be travelling at high speed, and passing through small areas of cloud. North of the main terminal building a left turn was initiated onto a close downwind leg for runway 32. The aircraft appeared to descend while on this leg. As the base turn was started, at a height estimated as 300-500 ft, the aircraft briefly went through cloud. Some of the witnesses reported that the engine noise from the aircraft during the approach was fairly loud, suggestive of a high power setting. Late on a left base leg the aircraft was observed to be in a steep left bank, probably in the order of 60°, at a height of about 200 ft. It then descended rapidly and struck a powerline with the right wing, approximately 28 ft AGL, resulting in an airport electrical power failure at 1943.02. Almost simultaneously the left wing struck bushes. A short distance beyond the powerlines the aircraft struck the ground and slid to a stop. A fierce fire broke out immediately. Airport fire services responded to the accident and the fire was quickly extinguished. Six of the occupants received fatal injuries and the others, including the pilot, were seriously injured.

The aircraft, with only the pilot on board, was being flown from Archerfield to Caboolture via the light aircraft lane to the west of Brisbane in company with another aircraft. About five minutes after departing Archerfield, the pilot radioed that he was experiencing problems with both engines and that he was in an emergency situation. The pilot of the other aircraft advised him that there were suitable forced landing areas in and around a nearby golf course. However, the aircraft continued and slowly lost altitude before rolling inverted and diving steeply into the ground. Ground witnesses reported hearing loud backfiring and fluctuating engine RPM from the aircraft. These sounds were accompanied by erratic rolling and yawing of the aircraft before it rolled to the left and inverted. The right wing was severed outboard of the engine as the aircraft impacted a large tree before crashing onto a road.

At about 1500 hours EST, 11 June 1993, a standard company flight plan held by the CAA at the Melbourne flight briefing facility was activated. The plan indicated that Piper PA-31-350 aircraft VH-NDU would be conducting flight OB 301, a regular public transport service from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) airport to Cootamundra NSW, with intermediate landings at Cowra and Young. The flight was planned to be operated in accordance with IFR procedures, with a scheduled departure time from Sydney of 1720. The aircraft was to be crewed by two pilots. Prior to departure, the company scheduled a second aircraft to operate the Sydney–Cowra sector. Consequently, VH-NDU was required to land only at Young and Cootamundra. At that time of the year, the 1720 departure time meant that the flight would be conducted entirely at night. VH-NDU departed Sydney at 1738 carrying five passengers, with a fuel endurance of about 253 minutes. The pilot-in-command occupied the left cockpit seat. The aircraft initially tracked via the direct Sydney to Cowra route and climbed to a cruising altitude of 8,000 feet. At 1801 the pilot reported to Sydney FIS that the aircraft was now tracking direct to Young, and would report at Riley, an en route reporting point located 62 NM from Young on the Katoomba– Young track. FIS advised the area QNH was 1003 hPa. At 1814 the pilot reported the aircraft was at Riley and estimated arrival at Young at 1835. By 1820 the pilot had reported on descent to Young, with in-flight conditions of cloud and heavy rain. Recorded radar data later showed that the aircraft passed 13.5 NM to the south-east of Riley, south of the direct Katoomba–Young track. At about 18.5 NM north-east of Rugby, the aircraft turned right and initially tracked about 280° before turning left to track direct to Young. When queried by FIS at 1836, the pilot amended the estimate for his arrival at Young to 1838. At 1842, after prompting from FIS, the pilot reported at Young that he was commencing an NDB approach, and would call again on the hour or in the circuit. Shortly after 1845 witnesses at Young aerodrome saw the lights of an aircraft, which they believed to be VH-NDU, pass low overhead after approaching from the east. Some minutes later the same aircraft was seen to pass over the aerodrome from the opposite direction and appear to climb away towards the east. On both occasions the runway and aerodrome lights were not illuminated, although the aerodrome was equipped with PAL and it was the responsibility of the pilot-in-command to activate it. At 1850 FIS advised VH-NDU of the proximity of Cessna 310 aircraft, VH-XMA, which was estimating arrival at Young at 1900. VH-XMA subsequently reported holding in visual conditions at about 8 NM north of Young. The pilot of VH-NDU reported at 1903 that he was on another overshoot at Young, about to commence another approach, and would report again at 1915. FIS provided additional traffic on Piper PA31 aircraft, VH-XML, which was also estimating Young at 1915. At about this time witnesses reported seeing the runway lights illuminate. VH-XMA then proceeded to Young and landed on runway 01 at about 1912. At 1916 VH-NDU reported in the Young circuit area and cancelled SARWATCH. A pilot witness said that the aircraft passed over the northern end of the aerodrome from a westerly direction before turning right and taking up a heading consistent with a right downwind leg for a landing on runway 01. The aircraft was then seen to turn right and pass to the south of the aerodrome before entering what appeared to be a right downwind leg for runway 19. When abeam the aerodrome the aircraft again turned right and overflew the aerodrome to enter a second right downwind leg for runway 01. Another witness thought the aircraft (VH-NDU) was significantly lower than another aircraft approaching from the east (VH-XML). Shortly after VH-NDU turned onto an apparent base leg the navigation lights were lost to sight. Almost immediately a fireball was observed, consistent with the final position of the aircraft (see figure 2). At 1918 the pilot of VH-XMA telephoned the 000 emergency services number and reported the accident to the Goulburn Ambulance Control Centre. By 1920 this information had been relayed to the Young Ambulance Service, the Young Police, and the Young SES. An off-duty Fire Brigade officer, who was waiting at the aerodrome, drove into Young and alerted the Fire Brigade at 1930. The emergency services initially travelled to Young Aerodrome but were unable to gain immediate access to the accident site, which was located on a hill some 2.2 km to the south-south-east of the aerodrome, in an area remote from roads and lighting. Access was finally gained from a road located south of the accident site. An ambulance reached the aircraft wreckage at 1952 and the crew were able to rescue and resuscitate the only survivor, who was critically injured, and transport her to the Young Hospital. She died at Camperdown Children’s Hospital at 0510 the next morning.

On short final to Golgubip Airstrip, the twin engine airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the ground and the aircraft crashed 100 metres short of runway threshold. The pilot and a passenger were seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed.

Crashed following an engine failure. There were no casualties.