Light plane crash near Port Macquarie
Thread Starter
Light plane crash near Port Macquarie
Reports on TV of a light plane crash near Port Macquarie.
Not 100% sure but the rego looked to be VH-YPQ which is actually a Diamond DA 40.
DF.
One person 'critical' after light plane crash near Port Macquarie
A man has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after a light plane crashed near Port Macquarie Airport on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
Emergency crews were called to the area at about 8:30pm on Friday, following reports a light plane had activated a distress beacon.
The NSW police helicopter and Westpac rescue helicopter were on the scene and supported the search for the plane, understood to be a Diamond D20.
A 25-year-old man was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital with head injuries in a critical condition.
The 25-year-old female pilot was also pulled from the wreckage and taken to Port Macquarie Hospital with a shoulder injury.
A man has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after a light plane crashed near Port Macquarie Airport on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
Emergency crews were called to the area at about 8:30pm on Friday, following reports a light plane had activated a distress beacon.
The NSW police helicopter and Westpac rescue helicopter were on the scene and supported the search for the plane, understood to be a Diamond D20.
A 25-year-old man was taken to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital with head injuries in a critical condition.
The 25-year-old female pilot was also pulled from the wreckage and taken to Port Macquarie Hospital with a shoulder injury.
DF.
Footage on 9 News confirms the above rego.
Looks like departure of 21. Footage on the news has it upside down in a swamp with the tail half detached.
Looks like departure of 21. Footage on the news has it upside down in a swamp with the tail half detached.
Thread Starter
DF.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Albany. WA
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Leadsled, have you any reason to think the ELT was a fixed one and not a handheld?
This from the Daily Telegraph may have helped with location of the plane!
The forced landing was spotted by a passer-by, according to AIAC chief pilot and chief flying instructor Kevin McMurtrie.
This from the Daily Telegraph may have helped with location of the plane!
The forced landing was spotted by a passer-by, according to AIAC chief pilot and chief flying instructor Kevin McMurtrie.
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Aus
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps we shouldn't overthink this one, for a change?
With apologies to a current beer advertisement, maybe the investigation could be be conducted by an "Under Thinktank"??
Re. fixed ELT, my assumption, based on the injuries to the occupants.
Tootle pip!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Prelim report: Investigation: AO-2017-090 - Collision with terrain involving Diamond DA40, VH-YPQ, near Port Macquarie Airport, NSW on 8 September 2017
...now I'll preface this by saying I wasn't in the cockpit, therefore I don't really know how I would have reacted. It's also been a while since I have flown at YPMQ, but...
Why on earth did the instructor elect to do the 'impossible turn' when there was a clearing directly ahead of the runway which is almost 600m in length! You would think having been an instructor there and presumably it not being their first day on the job that with an engine issue at 400ft landing straight ahead would be the best option.
...now I'll preface this by saying I wasn't in the cockpit, therefore I don't really know how I would have reacted. It's also been a while since I have flown at YPMQ, but...
Why on earth did the instructor elect to do the 'impossible turn' when there was a clearing directly ahead of the runway which is almost 600m in length! You would think having been an instructor there and presumably it not being their first day on the job that with an engine issue at 400ft landing straight ahead would be the best option.
A lit runway would be far more appealing and it wasn't a full loss of power. Lots to run through in your head in a short space of time.
Report finally out. https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/577825...-090-final.pdf
After take-off, as the aircraft climbed, the instructor heard and felt the engine and propeller surging. Propeller speed and engine power fluctuations occurred from about 200 ft above the runway and increased in amplitude as the aircraft climbed to about 400 ft. Recorded data showed that the engine was producing full power despite the fluctuations. The instructor interpreted the fluctuations as a partial engine power loss and commenced a left turn, aiming to return and land on the runway in the opposite direction to the take-off. The instructor had considered landing straight ahead but assessed that there was power available to turn and that they would be unable to see and avoid trees or to be sure to land in a suitable clearing ahead.
In the 10 seconds that the instructor was assessing and making decisions about a perceived partial power loss, the airspeed reduced from 75 to 69 kt due to the aircraft’s nose-up pitch attitude. Then, at the same time as commencing the turn back towards the runway, the instructor reduced engine power to 30 per cent, while maintaining a nose-up attitude, and the airspeed reduced rapidly.
During the turn, the aircraft aerodynamically stalled resulting in a loss of control. Although the aircraft pitched down and the instructor subsequently increased the power, control was not regained. The aircraft descended and collided with trees, coming to rest inverted. The student and instructor were seriously injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.
What happened
On the evening of 8 September 2017, an instructor and student from the Australian International Aviation College were preparing to conduct night training circuits at Port Macquarie Airport, New South Wales, in a Diamond DA40 NG aircraft, registered VH-YPQ. As it was the student’s first time conducting night circuits, once lined up on the runway, the instructor took the aircraft controls for the take-off.After take-off, as the aircraft climbed, the instructor heard and felt the engine and propeller surging. Propeller speed and engine power fluctuations occurred from about 200 ft above the runway and increased in amplitude as the aircraft climbed to about 400 ft. Recorded data showed that the engine was producing full power despite the fluctuations. The instructor interpreted the fluctuations as a partial engine power loss and commenced a left turn, aiming to return and land on the runway in the opposite direction to the take-off. The instructor had considered landing straight ahead but assessed that there was power available to turn and that they would be unable to see and avoid trees or to be sure to land in a suitable clearing ahead.
In the 10 seconds that the instructor was assessing and making decisions about a perceived partial power loss, the airspeed reduced from 75 to 69 kt due to the aircraft’s nose-up pitch attitude. Then, at the same time as commencing the turn back towards the runway, the instructor reduced engine power to 30 per cent, while maintaining a nose-up attitude, and the airspeed reduced rapidly.
During the turn, the aircraft aerodynamically stalled resulting in a loss of control. Although the aircraft pitched down and the instructor subsequently increased the power, control was not regained. The aircraft descended and collided with trees, coming to rest inverted. The student and instructor were seriously injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Amazing that they survived such an accident.
I hope they're doing ok now.
I hope they're doing ok now.
