Mallard Down in Perth
 

A Mallard just crashed into the Swan River in Perth. I just saw it happen. Turning from downwind to tight left base lining up for a landing. It looked too slow, turn got steep and in it went, almost wingtip first, it's hot, busy and crowded.

Story - with decent video surprisingly - available on the PerthNow website.

Mallard Down in Perth
 

Looks like a Grumman Mallard has spun into the Swan River at Skyshow.

Very sad images on online media.

The crash happened in front of tens of thousands of spectators gathering for the Australia Day fireworks display; which fireworks are launched from barges on the Swan River.

Not sure if the weather had a hand in the aircraft performance here, it has been an absolutely stinker of a day, with Perth recording a maximum of 42°C at 14:09Hrs and the temperature still on 39° at 17:00Hrs, around the time of the crash.

News media is now reporting the pilot is deceased. Certainly didn't appear to be a survivable crash, and the aircraft has been totally destroyed. The Swan is quite shallow in the area, he would have impacted the river bed.

I think you'll find that it's VH-CQA.

Looks bad. Thoughts with the crew and families and all the witnesses. Very traumatic.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/34277136...ky-show/#page1

Reports are that there were 2POB, and neither have surfaced, so it can be presumed that there are 2 fatalities.

Thank goodness they didn't crash into a pile of boats, the Swan River is normally bumper-to-bumper with boats at this time of day, on Australia Day.

Tonights Australia Day celebrations and fireworks show in Perth have reportedly been cancelled due to the crash.

Unfortunately, 2 fatalities reported.

Ch 7 NEWS just announcing that the traditional fireworks display for tonight on the Swan River has been cancelled due to the crash / WA Police refer.

Sad all around.......

7 and Perth Now reporting that police have confirmed 2 fatalities.

I think you will find it is VH-CQA.

Ah bugger it! Happened about the same time as I was posting a photo of the aircraft, taken down at Evans Head. I've just had friends from WA confirm that CQA was listed on the display program and it didn't appear to be a turbine, so...

As stated above it's Vh-CQA, a privalety owned Mallard based on the east coast.

Griffo, gidday sorry it's in these circumstances ..

Just reported on 7News that both occupants have died, Skyworks display has been cancelled.

Dreadful business. Both passed away. It effects all pilots and aircrew, at a loss like this.

Reasonable coverage on this site:
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/light...-ng-b88367876z

just watched quite a few vids of the incident, and from reports, no engine issues, but looks like a G stall while trying to tighten up the turn at low level. other witneses reporting he was getting close to edge of the display box, and tightened the turn to avoid going outside of the box.

That is certainly some confronting and graphic footage. Such a terrible shame and end to what would have been a great day for everyone.

Very hot 43C day here in Perth,

All comments above correct. Seen the footage shot from behind the turn, looked like a descending turn, steepened up part way through., then left wingtip water contact and cartwheel/ break up. No dramatic attitude changes or sudden movements visible in the clips Ive seen so far.
Bloody tragic. :{

Two people killed in light plane crash on Perth's Swan River.
 

Only made it to 42

Saw the low level turn
Very sad.

Actually no, every year there is a clear area in the centre boats are East and West near the causeway and the narrows. The centre is ALWAYS clear for the fireworks and the air display, given all the land areas are covered with spectators, the river is the landing area in the event of an engine failure.

I agree that they were lucky to not overshoot on to the spectator craft, which is why air displays are not OVER crowds.

This looks more like a stall spin though but will wait and hear.

No wurries Voice......ALWAYS a pleasure....VERY SAD occasion though...

:(

Very hard to see. My home town. Fellow float pilot. Very sad.

The Flying Program for the day listed "Unusual Aircraft Landing And Take Off From Perth Water" for the Mallard. This may possibly explain the descending, turning manoeuvre as positioning to land.
I didn't witness the impact, but when he came down the river past me just prior he was already quite low.

See the track and links on https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=20170126-0

The box was reported as 1500m x 3000m ? This would have been ok for aircraft doing aero displays and flypasts, but this was a water landing, ie., a circuit or a straight in. He did a circuit. A box 1500m wide itself is just about his (105kias?) base turn diameter, if so then he would have been unable to line up inside the box in a normal circuit and it didn't look like he was flying a teardrop ?
Displays are a unique set of circumstances that need everything planned.

Tragic, what a sad end to what should have been a great day for everyone.

Said on TV this morning that the pilot & family had just relocated from Qld to Perth. Three young children now without both parents.

DF.

RIP Peter and your wife...

Great aviation enthusiast too...

Australia Day will never be the same for those 3 kids. An awful tragedy.

RIP

Tragic event, my thoughts and prayers go to the two people who lost their lives and their families and friends.

Sadly I believe the long term effects of this accident will further restrict future such displays in Australia. I wouldn't be surprised that all floatplane operations from the Swan River will be banned by the local authorities.

I was watching the display, the accident aircraft appeared to be turning base for a touch and go similar to the grand caravan float plane which had just done the same.
Appeared to be stall and wing drop...
Very sad for the family and aviation community.

Not likely, I guess. Was Peter around, say, early to mid-70s and ex-AN ?

See link in post 21 above.....

Pilot reported as being age 52, Ch 7 News site.

Also from another video, you can see he was turning into a low 30 degree sun angle and with a 15Kt (?) tail wind elongating his base turn - neither of which would have helped his situational awareness.

Mallard accident
 

Significantly, slow and low tight turn, increasing bank angle and flaps up would have not helped. Numerous previous similar accidents have occurred over the years in many varied types. Indeed a sad event.

RIP Peter

Very sad, there is a interview with Peter in Down Under Aviation News
See if I can find a link, try this
https://downunderaviationnews.wordpr...h-peter-lynch/

His 3 children still have their mother .He was separated and had his partner with him