On 9 April 2008, a Fairchild Industries Metro III aircraft departing Sydney, NSW was observed on radar to be turning contrary to air traffic control instructions. The pilot reported that he had a '...slight technical fault...'. Recorded radar data showed the aircraft then completed a turn to the left before turning back to the right and disappearing from radar at an altitude of 3,900 ft. Searchers later discovered a small amount of aircraft wreckage floating in the ocean, south of the last recorded radar position. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation is continuing.
Download Interim Factual report [PDF
675 KB]
