Curious? Unreported Accident At Innamincka?

[Sunfish]

I was recently shown photos of a burned out aircraft at the Innamincka Town Airstrip.It looked like a Six cylinder Piper or a single engined Commander to me.

The story related to me was that the pilot blew the right main tyre on landing, so went around.

The next landing, he managed to loose directional control and headed off to the right, busting the gear in the rocks. The aircraft caught fire after stopping and the Two occupants escaped unhurt. They were apparently surveyors of some sort.

What was them alleged is that someone had an old car for sale at Innamincka, and the guys purchased it and took off in it shortly thereafter.

OK, this is a rumour website, and somebody may have been pulling my leg. Does anyone have the real story?

[whitenuckles]

Yes, all totally true. Was there last Friday and got the word from ppls who witnessed it. The guys knicked off, having paid $2,000 for a car that was for sale. From what I can make out the aircraft was a single-engine Commander, and is totally burnt out. Nothing left of the instrument panel. Curious thing that apparently there was virtually no wind at the time, because the smoke from the burning wreckage was going straight up. Best guess is that the pilot totally stuffed up his approach not once, but twice, . He was landing on 28. The a/c came to rest not far from the Innamincka cemetry!

[ThePaperBoy]

Unreported to the ATSB? Or unreported in the media and Pprune?

I heard the story about 10 days ago and thought it was strange I hadn't seen any details on here. It almost seems to be a race to post details about incidents sometimes...

I believe the pilot had shipped the Rockwell Commander to Australia not long ago. The story I heard was on approach the aircraft seemed to be "pulling to one side" so a go-around was completed. On landing after the second approach a number of sparks were coming from one of the wheels, soon followed by a fire. The pilots jumped out before the plane caught alight.

Second-hand story from a non-pilot close to the source so there may be errors in some of the details.

[ThePaperBoy]

Best guess is that the pilot totally stuffed up his approach not once, but twice

Not sure that was the case. Best not to make comments about the pilot's ability until you know all of the details.:=

[Homesick-Angel]

Best not to make comments about the pilot's ability until you know all of the details.

Why not? this is a rumour network.. Besides it makes for better reading if its made up...:}

[Ovation]

Interesting..............

There is only one recent addition (April 2011) to the VH register of a Rockkwell 114, but there's nothing yet on the ATSB weekly reports, assuming that is was actually reported (there are severe penalties prescribed in the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 for failing to do so).

[Desert Flower]

There is only one recent addition (April 2011) to the VH register of a Rockkwell 114

Actually there are two. OFN on 31-3-11 & SJF on 20-4-11.

DF.

[Tiger 77]

How are they going to claim insurance if they don't report the crash??

[Ovation]

How are they going to claim insurance if they don't report the crash??

I'm sure that the crash would have been reported but if it wasn't AND the AC was SJF, then it's owned by an insurance loss adjuster - would that help?

[compressor stall]

Came across the pics on a 4wd forum of all places. I still can't find anything on the ATSB website. Very odd.

[Lancair70]

I know of at least 3 aircraft accidents, one involving serious injuries, that I can find no trace of at all on ATSB website or any other info on them anywhere. In at least 2 cases the a/c was damaged beyond repair and was scrapped.

WTF ? How does this happen ?

[truthinbeer]

If there are no photos, it didn't happen.:) C'mon, fuel for the fire.

[Desert Flower]

From an ATSB weekly report:

26/06/11 201104208 Accident No Innamincka Township (ALA) SA COMMANDER AIRCRAFT COMPANY 114B Private Pleasure / Travel CTAF G On touchdown, the aircraft began to yaw right. The pilot initiated a go-around but the aircraft failed to become airborne, departed the runway to the right and came to rest in rough terrain about 800 m from the runway. The crew evacuated the aircraft which was destroyed by fire.

DF.