18 Years ago........today

[Dogimed]

On Sunday 24 April 1994, at about 0910 EST, Douglas DC-3 aircraft VH-EDC took off from runway 16 at Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport. The crew reported an engine malfunction during the initial climb and subsequently ditched the aircraft into Botany Bay. The DC-3 was on a charter flight to convey a group of college students and their band equipment from Sydney to Norfolk Island and return as part of Anzac Day celebrations on the island.

All 25 occupants, including the four crew, successfully evacuated the aircraft before it sank.

Well done to two of the tech crew!

Cheers....

Dog

[tipsy]

Flown by a very early PPRuNer, suitably named

V1 Ooop's

tipsy

[Dogimed]

Possibly a great example of not turning back...

[VH-XXX]

Was that one attributed to a gross case of aircraft unfamiliarity? Just sayin. It was mentioned in here a while back.

[Centaurus]

I vaguely recall the accident report mentioned something about the PF using mainly aileron to counter yaw instead of appropriate amount of rudder? The foot-load on single engine can be quite high and the vertical angle of the rudder pedals in relation to the angle of the pilots foot on a pedal can also be awkward.

[Aye Ess]

EDC has been owned by many operators over the years. I've painted it twice now in Qantas and Air Queensland liveries.

[Ollie Onion]

Seem to remember just a couple of weeks ago seeing a news article on this incident. It was highlighting the fact that after the incident the Captain of the aircraft was hauled over the coals by CASA and ultimately lost his licence. It was regained eventually but his career was over due to the 'stigma' surrounding this. Very unfortunate as I think it is generally accepted now that this tech crew did an absolutely amazing job in getting this thing down and everyone off. You would be able to count on one hand then incidents of passenger aircraft successfully ditching without the loss of life.

This crew should of been 'praised' not hung out to dry.

[Al E. Vator]

Is the first painting above that of the DC3 just before it ditches??

[Aye Ess]

Al E Vator.....Ha,but nope. The first painting in Qantas colours would be from around 1964 when it was used as a freighter between Sydney and Port Morseby. At the time of it's saltwater bath it was owned by 'South Pacific Airmotive' and its markings were a slight derivation of the old Australian Airlines colour scheme.

[tipsy]

For the armchair experts, read what the actual investigators said at the time.

Investigation: 199401043 - Douglas Aircraft Co Inc DC3C-S1C3G, VH-EDC

[Fris B. Fairing]

Al

I believe that Aye Ess is currently working on a painting of VH-EDC just before the ditching. Working title for the painting is rumoured to be:

"Singing Tooral liooral liaddity"

Poor old EDC sat at Camden for several years after being recovered from Botany Bay. It is reported that the airframe was "blown up" for the movie "Australia" but I've been unable to verify that. Does anyone know for sure?

Rgds

[Aye Ess]

For the younger generation reading Frisbee's comment and being confused. The next line from the song is 'bound for Botany Bay'

The Bay was full of boaties that day who were at the aircraft in seconds to help the occupants out. There is even a photo of the FO standing on top of the fuselage. Maybe someone has a copy of that?

[RHLMcG]

read what the actual investigators said at the time.

Rod's comments contrast a little (as one might expect).

Certainly, I have sympathy for some of his thoughts - for better balance, the investigation report ought to have had some qualifications/caveats included in respect of a number of comments/conclusions.

An interesting chap whom I knew reasonably well prior to and around the date of the mishap - although I can't recall ever having flown in the cockpit with him.

[Checkboard]

18 years ago today, the "Friends of Laphroaig" began. They reached their 500,000th member today. (I got an email about it.)

[StallsandSpins]

Mac Job wrote a good two part article on the investigation in to this incident in Australian Aviation years ago. I cant remember which issue it was but i would like to get a copy if anyone can remember. The only time i ever went up in a dc3 was in edc at warrnabool shortly before this incident. RL and BB were flying it at the time. i got to sit in the jump seat for takeoff and landing and we went on a short hop up the coast past the twelve apostles. I last saw the remains of this aircraft at camden about 10 years ago.

[Trent 972]

I heard it told that one of the drivers exited the cockpit onto the roof, walked back along the top, stepped onto the tailplane and into the rescue boat without getting his shoes wet.
If so, that is the stuff of Legends.

[Kris Lovell]

Aye Ess..

Was the Qantas Aussie flag really on backwards on that side?

VH-XXX

Was that one attributed to a gross case of aircraft unfamiliarity? Just sayin. It was mentioned in here a while back.

Technical crew
Pilot in command - Total on type 927

Ignoring the other as unverified.. I'd say thats a significant amount of DC3 time to be familiar with the aircraft, even if he wasnt the handling pilot initially.

Ollie

This crew should of been 'praised' not hung out to dry.

I've only known of one other pilot who disagreed with the above sentiment, and he had a very vested interest in DC3's. Thankfully he is long retired... I hope..

Centaurus

I vaguely recall the accident report mentioned something about the PF using mainly aileron to counter yaw instead of appropriate amount of rudder?

Disputed in dear old dads own words..

I dispute the BASI report's statement that "almost full right aileron had been used to control the aircraft". The implication of yaw is overstated. The application of hard right aileron was transient only

Something I wasnt aware of, but have since read in the BASI report ..(my bolding)

The landing gear was observed by witnesses located in a small pleasure craft under the flight path to be retracted prior to the aircraft being ditched. The pilot in command had to manoeuvre the aircraft to avoid hitting the craft whilst making the approach to ditch.

Anyway..
Kris

[Aye Ess]

Hello Kris,
Indeed the flag is correct. On any moving vehicle,be it train,boat or aircraft, the Australian flag always has to have the union jack at the forward end. In modern times,the Virgin lady always flutters her flag union jack forward.
Alan

[Checkboard]

Aye Ess..

Was the Qantas Aussie flag really on backwards on that side?

Flags fly in the wind, and the convention when painting them on aircraft is to paint them as though they were cloth flags attached to the aircraft. The Union Jack in the corner of the Australian flag is thus "upwind". The flag on the other side of the fuselage would look "correct".

[Kris Lovell]

Thank you Gentlemen..



Learn something new every day...

Kris