FACTUAL INFORMATION
At about 1630 Eastern Summer Time (ESuT) on 19 February 2004, the pilot, the sole occupant of a Aero Commander 500-S Shrike Commander aircraft registered VH-LST, reported taxiing for departure from runway 30 at Hobart Airport, Tasmania. The aircraft was being operated on a ferry flight to Devonport, a distance of approximately 110 NM to the north-west.
After departure the pilot made several radio transmissions, including providing altitude information to air traffic control at Hobart. The last recorded radio transmission from the pilot indicated that the aircraft had left 4,500 ft on climb to a cruising altitude of 8,500 ft.
When the aircraft operator became aware that the aircraft was overdue, they notified Australian Search and Rescue. The operator initiated a search flight from Hobart to Devonport, flying a similar track to that expected of the missing aircraft. The aircraft wreckage was sighted at approximately 1930 ESuT, approximately 58 km from Hobart Airport and approximately 1 km east of the direct Hobart to Devonport track. Shortly after, a search and rescue helicopter arrived at the accident site. The pilot of the Aero Commander was found fatally injured in the wreckage.
The main wreckage, which comprised the aircraft forward and aft fuselage, inboard wing sections and engines, was found inverted. The wing sections outboard of the flaps and the empennage were located approximately 560 m to the east-north-east of the main wreckage. The flaps remained attached to the main wreckage. The other flight control surfaces, left engine aft nacelle assembly and baggage door had also separated from the aircraft and were located closer to the main wreckage. Some lighter items were located approximately 1.3 km from the main wreckage.
The wreckage pattern indicates that the aircraft sustained a structural failure resulting in airframe disruption while airborne.
The investigation is continuing and is examining several aspects in relation to the accident, including the aircraft structure, maintenance, flight operations, air traffic control, meteorological conditions and human performance.
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