At about 1215 Eastern Standard Time on 5 October 2006, the pilot
of a British Aircraft Corporation 167 Strikemaster aircraft,
registered VH-AKY, took off from Bathurst, NSW, for a 25-minute
adventure flight with one passenger. The flight was intended to
include high-level aerobatics followed by a low-level simulated
strike mission. When the aircraft failed to return, a search was
initiated and the aircraft wreckage was located in the Turon State
Forest about 20 km to the north-east of Bathurst. The ground impact
started a fuel-fed fire that resulted in a large bushfire, which
took several days to contain. The pilot and passenger were fatally
injured.
The engine was producing significant power at the time of impact
and the wing flaps and landing gear were retracted. The right wing
and tail had separated from the aircraft. Separation of the right
wing was precipitated by pre-existing fatigue cracking in the right
wing upper main spar attachment lug.
During the low-level simulated strike mission, the aircraft
broke up in flight. The majority of the available evidence was
consistent with a break-up initiated by separation of the tail
surfaces leading to the separation of the weakened right wing.
As a result of this occurrence, the Australian Transport Safety
Bureau (ATSB) briefed the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
and the UK Civil Aviation Authority on findings relating to the
separation of the wing and tail. CASA has released a number of
Airworthiness Bulletins to alert Australian operators of issues
relating to Strikemaster and Jet Provost aircraft. CASA has also
approved the Australian Warbirds Association Limited to administer
aircraft operating under the Limited Category.
