triadic, this was the same aircraft but the previous incident where the aircraft was landed on a beach was not engine related. The one yesterday was.
tinpis, yep they sure are tough little buggers.
The wing was torn off quite close to the cockpit but there is no obvious damage to the fuselage apart from scrapes although may be some where the spar runs through under the cockpit. There was no rippling down the sides of the fuselage and the canopy still slid easily on the tracks.
For those of you who looked at the Google Map, you need to slide it northwards until you can see the quarter cloverleaf flyover on the Brooker Highway. The site was just to the south (or to the bottom of the frame) of that intersection.
For those who think that the site labelled Cornelian Bay Sports Ground would be the best option, there are tall trees on the approach from over the water and power lines; the Brooker Highway is built on an earth embankment on the far side with light posts on both sides; the site marked Stainforth Court is public housing flats and is built on higher ground; the Cornelian Bay cemetery is built on high ground. The other sports fields there are not an option and the hockey grounds are surrounded by lamp standards for playing night games.
A very experienced Victa pilot may have been able to get down on the Cornelian Bay Sports Ground but would need to have been absolutely exact with their flying. The option chosen by the pilot yesterday was, in my opinion better given all the circumstances.