VH-RYU

[Bull at a Gate]

Seeking some information about the above aircraft. Its wreckage is located in the Hunter Valley (northwest of Sydney), more specifically in an area known as the Watagans.

The internet tells me that is was a Cessna 172D Skyhawk built in 1962. There is also some drone footage with some information on it but who knows how reliable it is?

Much as I have tried I can't find out how and when it got to where it is now. I expect that someone will be better at this than I am, so please excuse my failings if finding the information I seek turns out to be easy.

Thanks in advance, Bull.

[Desert Flower]

Some photos here, but doesn't really tell you anything.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/smityimages/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1731717687097015

DF.

[Ascend Charlie]

This stirred a brain cell that has lain dormant for a while.

Back in April 98 I was involved in a search for a missing plane, and was assigned a specific area to search, northwest of Scone or thereabouts.

We carried out a creeping line ahead search and after about an hour, we overflew the wreckage of a light plane. We were initially excited, but on closer inspection it had been there for many years, not 1 day like the one we were searching for. Anyhow, I called it in and apparently it had been known of for some time to AMSA.

Later that day the missing plane was found in an area about 15nm away, a male and female survived the crash, but I think the male may not have survived the night. This may have been RYU, but I cannot confirm.

[hiwaytohell]

AC
You also had the PA28-140 VH-BAQ from Walgett to Merriwa January 1999 North West of Scone.
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1999/aair/aair199900044/
Sorry not RYU.

[muddergoose]

Ausairdata says in fine print, dam311283. I take that as damaged on that date? In an Instagram meta data tag someone suggested it was something to do with substance conveyance.

[jonkster]

maybe https://img.newspapers.com/img/thumbnail/119724318/400/400/0_0_5824_8038.jpg?cs=604800 ?

april 2000 SMH

[Ascend Charlie]

Ah, yes, thanks Mr Hiway, but my logbook shows I was there in April 98, before BAQ.

[Bull at a Gate]

I think Jonkster has it! Thanks very much. How did you do it?

Now all I have to do is find a readable copy of that page...

[jonkster]

you will have to pay I think for access to the SMH archives. I am too cheap to do that sadly :(

[nightmode]

I was in Cessnock the day RYU didn't come back from it's flight - I was supposed to go flying in it after it returned.
It had a partial engine failure and ended up with nowhere to land.
It ended up suspended about a meter from the ground, hanging from the trees, pilot and passengers got out of the front window.
I probably have the paper article somewhere.
A very good outcome for a bad set of circumstances.

[seafury45]

Bull at a gate, and jongster

Try Trove for the newspaper article. For those who don't know Trove is the digitised newspaper archive of the National Library of Australia, accessible on-line and free. Help them out by correcting the digital text.

[Allan L]

The SMH is only available on Trove up till 1954 (as are most of the papers that the NLA have digitised.) Unfortunately. There are paid providers who offer more recent news articles though.