Apologies for the wrong forum ...

[DuncanF]

I apologise for posting this here, but I really don't know where it should be.

A great friend of mine died on Monday in a chartered aircraft out of Perth. Time and distance mean that I've just learned of his death.

All I know is that it was a six-seater on a charter to do some submarine sounding experiment. Harry died and the other pax are badly burned. If anyone has any knowledge of this accident then I would be very grateful for details.

I'm just doing my PPL at Elstree and this will spur me on to be as good and as safe a pilot as I can be.

Thank you.

Duncan

[AIRWAY]

Elstree your not too far from where i fly ( Stapleford ). I got some links regarding the accident somewhere, let me try and find them. Im sorry about your friend :(

If you need anything drop me a PM

[av8boy]

I too am sorry to hear of the death of your friend.

I don't find anything on the ATSB or CASA websites about this yet. A quick search found a number of news stories, with the news.ninemsn.com.au report being the most complete among the ones I've seen so far:
***********************
One dead in WA plane crash

One person was killed and five seriously injured when a light plane crashed as it returned to Perth's Jandakot airport shortly after taking off.

The twin-engined Cessna 404 with six people on board brushed trees as it was coming back to land at the airport, crashing short of the runway in scrubland about 18km south of Perth, emergency authorities said.

Initial inquires indicate engine trouble as the cause of the crash, officials said.

The plane was believed to be owned by Fugro Spatial Solutions, who have a fleet of seven high performance twin engine aircraft for aerial survey and specialised air work operations.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority launched an immediate inquiry into the accident as the five injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment.

"On-site investigators are currently pulling together the pieces at this very early stage," CASA's Peter Gibson said.

"It appears the plane took off ... and then experienced some difficulties before turning back and attempting to land. The plane came up short and hit some trees and has then crashed."

Mr Gibson said the plane had a current certificate to fly and had never come to the attention of CASA before the accident.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau had an investigator on site, police said.

A spokeswoman for St John Ambulance said the injured - all with severe burns - had been taken to Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner hospital, four by road and one by medivac helicopter.

All the injured have "time-critical" life threatening injuries, she said.

WA's new Medivac helicopter, which does not come into commission until August 16, was performing training exercises at the airport and was swung into action immediately after the crash.

The man taken by air to Royal Perth had burns to much of his body, the ambulance spokeswoman said.

Officials at the airport reported a "category one incident, which indicates an emergency" at around 3.30pm local time (1730 AEDT).

Fire crews were called to the site to extinguish a blaze started when the plane crashed.
*****************************
END
*****************************




CASA has the following info on the operator:

FUGRO SPATIAL SOLUTIONS PTY LTD
trading as FUGRO SPATIAL SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

121 HILL STREET
EAST PERTH WA 6004
Type of operations
Aerial work

Aerial work categories

Agricultural operations (may include seeding, chemical/fertilizer spreading, spraying/pest eradication)

Dropping operations (may include water/fire retardant, bushfire control, food/fodder relief, messages, lifesaving equipment/personnel)

Aerial photography (may include still and motion, low level filming, media operations)

Search and rescue

Aerial surveying (may include geochemical/sampling, environmental studies, pipeline inspection, property survey)
********************

Link to the operator's certificate: http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/download/W038804-30.pdf

********************

Fugro's C404s (don't know which one it was):

VH ANV

Aeroplane with retractable tricycle landing gear
2 reciprocating engines

Make and type: CESSNA 404
Model: 404
Serial number: 4040820
SSR Mode S code: 011111000000000111101001
Aircraft first registered in Australia: 01/06/1981
Certificate of Registration holder as of 13/09/1991

FUGRO SPATIAL SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

121 HILL STREET
EAST PERTH WA 6004
****

VH AZU

Aeroplane with retractable tricycle landing gear
2 reciprocating engines

Make and type: CESSNA 404
Model: 404
Serial number: 4040803
SSR Mode S code: 011111000000001110011000
Aircraft first registered in Australia: 09/12/1981
Certificate of Registration holder as of 13/09/1991

FUGRO SPATIAL SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

121 HILL STREET
EAST PERTH WA 6004
****

VH WGS

Aeroplane with retractable tricycle landing gear
2 reciprocating engines

Make and type: CESSNA 404
Model: 404
Serial number: 404-0686
SSR Mode S code: 011111000111000001001010
Aircraft first registered in Australia: 06/10/1998
Certificate of Registration holder as of 06/10/1998

FUGRO AIRBORNE SURVEYS PTY LTD

LOCKED BAG 6
WEMBLEY WA 6014
***************************

Fugro Spatial website:
http://www.fugrospatial.com.au/
****************************

Finally, if you don't know what a C404 looks like, go here (Note that the aircraft on this page has nothing to do with the accident):
http://www.westavia.de/en_cessna_404_titan.htm

Sorry I didn't have time to run down anything else...

Dave

[cribble]

More on D&G Questions Forum "Jandakot Crash"
condolences

[Natit]

I am deeply sorry to hear of your loss.

Was just wondering if anyone can confirm the pilot did die in the accident? I have heard differing stories (as always) from the media.

Once again, my condolences.

Natit

[DX Wombat]

Natit no, the pilot is in hospital with serious burns.
Feel free to email or PM me but this information is accurate.

[DuncanF]

Natit, I can confirm Wombat's report. My friend Harry Protoolis who died was not the pilot. He worked for the company who chartered the plane and were undertaking tests on some new sonar technology.

My thoughts are with his wife Janet and their three young children, and hopefully a speedy recovery for the five others involved.

Duncan

[Natit]

Thankyou for the information.

Duncan, my heart goes out to you mate. Sorry to hear of your loss. Another sad day in aviation.

Natit

[Servo]

Duncan, I feel for your loss, my condolences to all families and friends.

Although honourable, you may want to edit your last post to remove the "deceased" persons name, as the media etc. do frequent the forums. If it is public knowledge with the families consent then I am sorry for sticking my nose in.

As you mentioned let yiur loss drive you to being all that you can be especially a great pilot.

Regards,


Servo

[flyboy6876]

Servo, the name has already been released via the newsies.

Condolences to the family.

[DX Wombat]

Duncan, see your PMs :sad: