Aircraft accident SE-Qld 18/8/21
 

Possible aircraft accident around 'Pumistone Passage' in SE-Qld.

Any further info out there?'Police say the small aircraft was reported to have been involved in an "incident" on the remote wetland near Caloundra at about 9.25am on Wednesday.

The first of three fire and emergency crews arrived at 10:35am and are liaising with the police helicopter.

Earlier, Queensland Ambulance Service said they had received reports that a plane was in the water.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter, water police boats and Marine Rescue Queensland vessels are also involved.'

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-...bane/100386296

Looks like VH-YEL? https://www.airhistory.net/photo/179033/VH-YEL

It would appear so- reported as being an Acroduster.

Departed Caloundra (YCDR) according to ABC radio.
RIP

RIP
in the media photo can anyone see the wings?

This shows more in relation to that question
https://www.9news.com.au/national/qu...1-e3c5b39e6665

:{Difficult to tell, but the only thing that comes to mind at the moment is an inverted flat spin. Bugger.

They said in the news there was an extensive wreckage trail that was spread over a large area and was unlikely to be recovered before the incoming tide

Based on pics floating about, the wing(s) could be up to 200 metres from the fuselage.

Out enjoying going loopy…. and structural failure? RIP that man.

How many people in Oz have been killed in like kind of situations? Even folk that were good at it… and no parachutes. It’s been happening for decades.Is our esteemed “safety” agency not interested.?

In the US for aeros one must kit up. On aerobatic passenger flights it’s a must. Litigation ensures it.
Kill yr ticket holder… and there goes yr. business.
I can think of 2 events when Tigers lost their wings. No survivors , 4 that had no second chance
A Slimpack is cheap insurance.

In Ingham years ago the Big radial Pitts got into an inverted flat spin …at altitude… No chutes , 2 dead.

I accept it could be a personal choiceAND we certainly don’t need a Semi Trailer load of legal codswallop fr CAsA
Is one prepared to take the risk…..with no second chance when things go wrong.

All good points.
Good that the ATSB is investigating this accident so perhaps they might mention parachutes as a risk mitigation option. I just skipped through CAAP 155-1, Aerobatics section on Risk Management and TEM - didn't see parachutes mentioned at all.
Many serious aerobatic pilots wear chutes here but there is the added risk of being low for much of the time.
Another double fatality in a big radial Pitts spin accident in the USA just recently - pilot jumped too late.

Perhaps when CASA eventually rewrites their CAAP for the new rules (well, Part 61 is no longer new) they might consider sensible guidance on parachutes. Two up has lots of issues to consider and some operators who are required to do it just turns into a box ticking exercise, might as well be sitting on cushions.

As a matter of interest, does Aerobatics Australia require parachutes for competition participants? When I competed in South Africa the governing body mandated chutes, and checked the repack record at each competition.

Speculation, but is it possible that the wreckage was spread by an outgoing tide? I think the accident was after high tide, but some hours before low.

Tide movement of the wreckage is certainly possible, however I am sure that the ATSB will be able to tell if any separation of the airframe occurred pre ground contact.

Nothing mentioned in their rules.

ATSB calling it as an "in-flight breakup":

Investigation: AO-2021-032 - Collision with terrain involving Acroduster II SA750, VH-YEL, near Bribie Island, Queensland, 18 August 2021

The helicopter pilot witness is being quoted around Caboolture as seeing the aircraft in straight and level flight shedding pieces. The cloud base in the area (and here I'm quoting a friend who was there) was around 1000 to 1200 feet which, one would hope, would rule out aerobatics.

Recently saw a video clip where a guy was doing aeros and beating the place up at dot feet.
Mmmmmm .. no need for a chute here.!
This looks like it will end in tears. And it did.

I possess the weather camera images from the time and the weather conditions did deteriorate at Caboolture from around 9am to what you have suggested. Prior to this, it was quite suitable for aerobatics or similar.