Air North Brasilia Crash in Darwin (Merged)
 

Breaking news

Quote:

---

TWO people are believed to have been killed when a plane crashed at Darwin's airport this morning.
A witness told the NT News he saw the plane crash at the Darwin RAAF base about 10.15am.

"We just heard this loud bang and then looked and saw the plane explode," one witness said.

Police, St John Ambulance and firefighters have been called to the scene but it is understood the two people on board the light plane were dead when they arrived.

It is not yet known where the plane was coming from.

Defence have confirmed it was a civilian plane, not a RAAF aircraft

---

Apparently an Air North Brasilia. In one sense, it's "lucky" (obviously not for the crew involved), it's 2 POB and not 18.

Further details - looks like AirNorth
 

Two dead in plane crash

By Eleni Roussos
Updated 13 minutes ago
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201003/r535511_3074922.jpg An E120 plane similar to this one has crashed in Darwin, killing two people.

• Map: Darwin 0800

Two pilots have died after their plane crashed at the RAAF base in Darwin just after 10am (CST) today.
Police say the 30-seater Airnorth Embraer 120 had just taken off when it banked sharply to the left and crashed onto the RAAF runway.
It immediately burst into flames.
An Airnorth spokesperson says both pilots had significant flying experience and were undertaking a refresher training course.
The spokesperson says nobody else was on board.
The cause of the crash is still unknown.
Assistant Commissioner, Mark Payne, says police will begin investigating the crash as soon as they can get near the site.
Fire crews have been working to put out the flames but witnesses say the wreckage keeps re-igniting.
The crash scene is some distance from the Darwin International Airport terminal and all flights are running normally.

Does anyone have any more info. Two of my very good friends work for AN and no-one has their phone on at the moment...:(

My thoughts go to the AN family at this time.:sad:

Air North Brasilia Crash in Darwin (Merged)
 

Very sad indeed, one of my "almost family" :{

Check PM's OpsNormal

I am not sure its right just yet to publish names, but I can confirm the PIC (I assume he would have been) was a family friend, you know the adopted family thing....almost a brother. :{

So rather than broadcast things, if you wish to PM me with the names of folk you are concerned about I will either confirm or deny based on that one person. I do not know the other pilot concerned

MODS
If this post is out of line please remove it. I know how I felt for an hour or so, and others may want clarity.

Just not too sure how to handle this from here, but I now know how others feel at a time like this.

J

I can't believe someone has already updated wikipedia under the Airnorth information.

Farking despicable.

I knew both of 'em :{

When you fly long enough, I suppose this sort of thing happens. let's just hope that something positive comes from this mess.

My sincere condolence's to the families and the greater pilot/aviation community of the NT for the unnecessary loss of life.:{

I hope that this brings the need for full flight simulator's to mandatory status for RPT operator's. Tam-air proved that.:ugh:

Leatherdog.

Like conducting refresher training in simulators and not aircraft... because this is an oft-trodden path. I wonder if they were practising an engine failure on takeoff...

Very sad for the families and friends of the crew, made worse by the fact that this sort of accident is unnecessary in this day and age.

Two threads merged - please keep all posts on this subject here.

This is really sad news.

I am sure the pilots did their best in the circumstance but unfortunately it wasn't enough.

A sad day for aviation.

In another thread it was said they were doing Asymmetric training. Possibly a simulated EFATO, that went actual.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the two pilots lost. This is a very sad day for both Air North and Australian Aviation as a whole.

To the family, My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Please don't turn this into a condolences thread especially if you have no personal connection with the crew concerned.

remoak,

Spot on.

And going further, cutting out in-air exercises, where the training value is no way proportionate to the risk. Our accident rate in training in small multi-engine aircraft ( where there is no sim. available) is there for all to see --- and it is not a pretty picture.

Our inflexible regulations ---- one size fits all ---- doesn't help either, with very little flexibility for training pilots to exercise operational judgment re. particular types of aircraft/AFMs/ Type Certificate Holder's recommendations, in complying with the "rules".

Tootle pip!!

I was trained by the PIC, such a great guy and an absolute professional.

I'm just waiting for all the usual suspects to start bleating on about waiting for the report...

No airline-level aircraft should ever have it's crew training done in the aircraft. These two guys died for no reason at all. V1 cuts in small (and even large) turboprops are extremely risky if not handled correctly... that is why simulators exist.

Please No Names, No Condolences from strangers and definately NO SPECULATION!

These were great guys.

Downunder......

Yes, its true that he was one of lifes great people, comes from a family of them, and with recent events and other family sadness in the last 10-15 years I really am not looking forward to seeing his mum tonight. I have heard heaps from others along a similar line and will do my best to convey it appropriately.....however you do that. :sad:

I certainly agree with the above posts. I know for a fact that there is an Emb120 sim in Melbourne available.

I would hate to think that a company would use an actual aircraft to simulate and practice high risk manuevers than spend a proportionate amount and have the crew use a simulator and overnight them at a hotel etc.

I dont know what happened in this case nor do I wish to speculate what caused the accident, but a simulator lets you practice in relative safety, if the incorrect action/procedure was to be completed................

Now another two pilots have their eternal wings :{

Ex Air Vanuatu
 

Does anyone have information whether any of the ex-Air Vanuatu boys are involved, please respond via pm.

thanks

g

Media Release

2010/06

Media briefing: Aircraft accident at Darwin Airport

22 March 2010


The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident involving an Embraer Basilia aircraft (registration number VH-ANB) at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, which occurred at 1010 CST on 22 March 2010.
The ATSB investigator in charge, Mr Alex Hood will conduct a briefing on known factual aspects of the aviation accident.

Where: Outside RAAF Base Darwin, NT (Cnr of Stuart Hwy and Billeroy Road)
Date: Tuesday 23 March 2010, 1400 CST (local time)

No further media briefings will be conducted by the investigation team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.


Media Contact: 1800 020 616

I used to live on the RAAF Base in Darwin, Binnari Place.

Now if i remember the corner of Stuart Hwy and Billeroy Rd is the main intersection out of the RAAF Base where the shops are.(re the previous posts media release.)

I thought it came down near the golf course, which would be more likely since its on the direct path away from 29.

Where exactly did it come down?

Goose - that's where the media scrum is being held!!! :}

Fellow Professionals
 

Let me push start the wait-for-the-investigation bandwagon.
At this stage we (the aviation community) just don't know what happened. Already there is criticism of the company and the regulations.

It won't be long before the engineers and CASA get a blast and eventually somebody will take a swipe at the crew. As I said we just don't know and until a proper, professional investigation has been done and the results released all the chest beating in the world means nothing.
One thing we do know. Two of our fellow professionals are dead, famililies are hurting in way we would never want to experience and their wider family, the airline, are grieving. Speculating only serves to add ignorant insult to injury.

Please express your genuine grief if you know the guys involved and support their families if you can but lay off the blame game. That is the least these guys deserve.

I Cant Believe it, Very upsetting news
 

To say I am in shock is an understatement.

I hadn't seen shane for years and caught up with him only a few days ago during a short visit to darwin,

He was one of the nicest people I have ever come across in the industry, I meet him as a new pilot in my very first flying job in Groote,He did my check ride and gave me a pat on my back and told me Id be right.

He was one of the most giving pilots I have ever come across in the industry, always trying to help others out and pass on his knowledge, He enjoyed watching young pilots learn and grow, and was always there to give useful pointers, I am very happy to have had him as a friend and I am very sad at hearing the news, it has upset me more than I thought it would, as all my memories of him are positive ones

My sincere condolences go out to his family who were always the most important thing in his life, when ever I spoke to him he would always talk about how they were going and how proud he was of them all.

You will be very sorely missed mate,

RIP

Watch out guys, the media wolves are 'hunting' on this forum for someone to speculate on the accident.

I suggest any contact attempt from anyone from the media be left well ALONE.

Stay Safe

Leatherdog

Guys,

Please read flying-spike's post again.

Enough said.

I see no problem with the media reporting "facts". Why hide facts, all be it I suspect not many are known at this stage.

I have been watching the news down south (Brisbane) and the accident hasn't rated a mention . I. E. Not on word, obamas health deal, Patels court case and some new orange fizzy drink are the headlines on 7,9,10 and the ABC

what are the facts known to date?

The ABC have a story and video too:
Two pilots killed in plane crash - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I'm really sad to hear this. I knew SW from the days of AA in Darwin and I had the utmost respect for his instruction and his genteel approach to everyone he came in contact with. He was a good guy and well liked and will be sorely missed! He supported a few of us at groote in very troubling times back in 02.
As always, PLEASE GIVE HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUE THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE as airmen. To you di@kheads, please refrain from wild speculating and finger pointing here and leave the findings to the investigators. They will do their job and the facts will be released in due course.

Can't believe it. really wish I wasn't posting this. :{

PPRuNe is a rumour network, specifically for pilots to report and comment on events in the industry. An accident is always a major story for pilots, some of us because we knew those involved, some simply for the safety lessons each accident brings.

With the utmost respect, the official report has its place, and speculation and commentary here has its place. To ask for no one to speculate is simply to ask for this site not to exist. You know speculation will occur - if you will find that distressing, don't read the thread.

We all feel for the sorrow the families experience in this difficult time, however those who really know the families involved would do better to contact them at an appropriate time. Those who don't - your general feelings are a given, there is really no need to express them on an anonymous website, to be read by other anonymous people.

Capt Kellogs, not sure names have been officially released yet but you and Spoilher are correct on the checkie. Dont know who the other pilot was.

Just spen the evening with his mum here and its a pretty sad time with that and other family illness issues.

Were you up there for his 50th? Part was a few days early, his birthday being Thursday.

And you are right, one of the really top blokes, a family full of them.

J:(

Renurp..... Pretty sad really from the ABC, check pilots mum had not seen anything and wanted to see something, we sat there for the whole program, nothing but Tiger Woods and Patel. Maybe its better that way anyway.

Not such an "idiot" that I make a simple grammatical error in a post accusing another of being an idiot. :hmm:

This site is also a site where us 'laaaaazy pilots' (SW) sometimes go to find news about things like this, where we might know the guys involved in the incident or accident and many of us might be a little emotional and sensitive about an ex-colleague or mate's passing. Tell me of another internet site where pilots know to go to find out about the guys involved.

I have watched PPRUNE over the years where people have baggged the hell out of the unfortunate pilots and they've turned out completely wrong. There is nothing wrong with healthy debate but don't start the blame game until the investigation is done.

I do believe due respect should be given to such a thread because often as has been said and seen many times before, the families and friends will usually get on here first and will continue to follow the thread. SENSITIVITY HAS IT'S PLACE! Be respectful.

No they didn't, heard several Top Ends on BNE Centre tonight.

I'm listening. I have been in aviation a long time and to date have had eight friends die in GA & the RAAF. I certainly don't (and didn't) condone a blame game - but that, for instance, doesn't preclude speculation on the cause or causes of an accident. Such speculation can help non-aviation readers (like the families) understand a bit more about how the tragedy occurred IMHO.

Asking for no speculation is inane, banal, and contrary to human nature; and on a Rumour Network, no less. :ugh:

No, he's one of the very few making any sense here.

We all get that this is an emotional time for some here, but this is a PROFESSIONAL pilots forum... so how about a professional approach to this accident?

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what probably happened. Whatever the report concludes in a couple of years time, there are already valuable lessons to be learned.

When there is an accident, there are generally two causes - either the aircraft broke, or the pilot(s) made an error. Sometimes, a crash happens because the aircraft broke and the crew subsequently made error... swiss cheese and all that.

Most of you that knew one of the pilots are clearly in denial that your mate could possibly have made an error. Fine, but recognise that for what it is, a purely emotional response, not an analytical (or professional) one.

There will be speculation, anyone with half a brain knows that. Try and see through the emotion and look at the bigger picture.

While you are doing that, you may want to ask WTF they were doing training in the aircraft... there is only one sort of training that you do with no pax on board... think about it.

Those capable of objective thought may find similarities in the crash of a BAe Jetstream on 6 October 1992 at Prestwick...

Come on, guys!

The gentlemen involved have been named in a previous link. Please do not re-post old links.

Secondly, we requested earlier that this NOT be turned into a condolence thread. Let's just keep to the facts.

Finally, we WILL NOT tolerate personal attacks on Moderators or members, just because they may hold a different opinion to yours.

Crashes which involve injury or worse can bring out the best and worst in people. Unfortunately we have witnessed more of the ugly side of some people here tonight.

Please just step back for a minute and THINK before clicking the submit button.

TID.