Aero Commander down near Hobart
 

What is the intel on this event ?

Sad news
 

CJ,

Sad news : ABC News Online

May she RIP, condolences to her family and colleges.

Female Pilot Dead.
 

A person has died in a light plane crash in Tasmania's central highlands.

Rescue workers arrived at the scene of the wreckage near Table Mountain, north-west of Oatlands, to find the 22-year-old female pilot dead.

The woman was the only person on board the plane, which was travelling from Hobart to Devonport.

It was reported overdue at 7:00pm.

abc news

From http://news.com.au/common/story_page...55E921,00.html


Tasair death crash
By JANE LOVIBOND
February 20, 2004

A TWIN-ENGINE aircraft bound for Devonport crashed in a remote area of the Tasmanian Midlands late yesterday, killing the 21-year-old woman pilot.

Wreckage of the Tasair Aero Commander was found during an aerial search on a ridge south of Table Mountain about 6.30pm.

The Tasmania Police air rescue helicopter landed at the site and the crew, including a paramedic, located the pilot's body.

Police and emergency crews reached the crash site about 10.15pm after driving on logging roads and walking over rugged terrain.

The aircraft left Hobart at 4.43pm for its 50-minute flight but concerns were raised when it was overdue at Devonport.

Hobart Aviation consultant and lawyer Brian Morgan said staff at Tasair were devastated and had gathered at the airline's Hobart Airport headquarters last night.

He said the wreckage was found by one of two Tasair pilots mobilised to search the flight path for their colleague's plane.

Mr Morgan said flying conditions were perfect for the flight to Devonport and the Aero Commander was renowned as one of the safest twin-engine aircraft in the world.

The plane was on a delivery flight and was not carrying passengers or cargo.

It had received regular scheduled maintenance two weeks ago.

The pilot, originally from New South Wales, had joined Tasair 12 months ago and held a commercial licence and a command instrument rating permitting flight in all weather.

Mr Morgan said the pilot had trained for her instrument rating in Hobart and was familiar with the Aero Commander aircraft.

Only this week she had flown its twin from Flinders Island to Devonport and then to Hobart.

Mr Morgan said the pilot made mandatory radio contact with the Hobart tower, climbing to 4400ft about 10 to 15 minutes into the flight.

There had been no further communication after she had turned to a Melbourne frequency.

"Tasair notified AusSAR that the flight was overdue and initiated its own search from the North-West and from the South to track over the flight path," Mr Morgan said.

"The flight from Hobart found the aircraft lying on the ground on a ridge south of Table Mountain.

"They let AusSAR know and orbited the area to guide the police helicopter to the crash site."

The Air Transport Safety Bureau based in Melbourne will start an investigation into the incident today.

Tasair has operated its airline and charter flight business since 1965.

It employs 15 pilots and operates aircraft on regular airline routes servicing Hobart, Burnie, Devonport, King Island and Melbourne.

The Mercury


Condolences to the family and friends of the pilot.

Sad news indeed.

It is pleasing to see a company hiring someone to dissemminate some facts on the accident to allay speculation in the media. Helps to prevent journo's making it up during what is a traumatic time for friends, colleagues and relatives.

CS

Terrible.

Could someone please post the initials of the girl.

My thoughts with the family and friends.

HC was a lovely sensitive girl from a very caring family who supported her career in every way possible.

Taken far too soon. A life unfinished.

NAMPS

A quick question for you. Was your quote from The Mercury accurate as to the altitude she was climbing to, "4,400 ft"?

The lowest safe altitude on the Hobart - Devonport route, if my ancient memory is correct, is 5,600'.

I have also heard from friends in Tassie that the conditions on the day were conducive (sp?) to mountain waves. Where the wreckage was found, "Table Mountain", is the southern end of the Great Western Tiers. For those that know Tassie the Tiers mark the boundary of the Central Plateau region and the mountains that run from there to the west coast.

This area can create monumental turbulence in the right conditions.

Before you all jump down my neck I am not saying that is what happened just that the reported media comments appear to be confusing.

My condolences to the family of the pilot for the tragedy that has occurred. It is always a sad day when a life of promise is cut short.

PL

It was a 'cut and paste' job from the article, it may be that the journo mis-quoted Morgan.

Unfortunately I'm not au fait with the region and I don't have my Jepps handy. In any event, a tragic loss.

NAMPS

Thank you for the reply.

My memory is more ancient than I thought. After posting I looked up the LSALT and it is actually 6000'.

Agree a tragedy.

Can someone please
 

Can someone please PM with the name of the pilot, I might have worked with her recently.

Dog
:(

In regards to climbing to 4400 ft. This sounds like someone at the paper getting it wrong. 4400ft is neither an IFR or VFR cruise level. This company has an excellent reputation in the industry for comercial and training operations. Sad news but lets wait fot the experts investigation.

I wouldnt go as far to say they had an EXCELLENT repetation.

It was one of their pilots/operations for the C182 which went in the drink near Verona Sands/Huon Island a few years ago

However... its an absolutely tragic loss.

News this evening is saying that aircraft parts have been found seperated from the aircraft away from the crash site, i guess saying that there was some major structual failure :(

Parts of the aeroplane including some of the wing were found a considerable distance from the crash site, with some of the panel instruments being hundreds of metres away. Seems something catastrophic happened in the air.

The funeral will be on Wednesday the 3rd March in Sydney. If anyone wishes the details, please private message me.

RS

What model aerocommander was it?

Some were a lot stronger than others structurally...

500 s I think cs

CS

Definately a 500S.

Tasair had 3 of them: EXC, EXF & LST.

Can anyone advise what was the registration of the particular aircraft?

The aircraft was VH-LST

ATSB prelim report
 

FACTUAL INFORMATION

At about 1630 Eastern Summer Time (ESuT) on 19 February 2004, the pilot, the sole occupant of a Aero Commander 500-S Shrike Commander aircraft registered VH-LST, reported taxiing for departure from runway 30 at Hobart Airport, Tasmania. The aircraft was being operated on a ferry flight to Devonport, a distance of approximately 110 NM to the north-west.

After departure the pilot made several radio transmissions, including providing altitude information to air traffic control at Hobart. The last recorded radio transmission from the pilot indicated that the aircraft had left 4,500 ft on climb to a cruising altitude of 8,500 ft.

When the aircraft operator became aware that the aircraft was overdue, they notified Australian Search and Rescue. The operator initiated a search flight from Hobart to Devonport, flying a similar track to that expected of the missing aircraft. The aircraft wreckage was sighted at approximately 1930 ESuT, approximately 58 km from Hobart Airport and approximately 1 km east of the direct Hobart to Devonport track. Shortly after, a search and rescue helicopter arrived at the accident site. The pilot of the Aero Commander was found fatally injured in the wreckage.

The main wreckage, which comprised the aircraft forward and aft fuselage, inboard wing sections and engines, was found inverted. The wing sections outboard of the flaps and the empennage were located approximately 560 m to the east-north-east of the main wreckage. The flaps remained attached to the main wreckage. The other flight control surfaces, left engine aft nacelle assembly and baggage door had also separated from the aircraft and were located closer to the main wreckage. Some lighter items were located approximately 1.3 km from the main wreckage.

The wreckage pattern indicates that the aircraft sustained a structural failure resulting in airframe disruption while airborne.

The investigation is continuing and is examining several aspects in relation to the accident, including the aircraft structure, maintenance, flight operations, air traffic control, meteorological conditions and human performance.

source

How tall was she ?