Aviation safety investigations & reports
Visual Flight Rules in Instrument Meteorological Conditions and controlled flight into terrain involving Cessna 182Q, VH-CWQ, 15 km north of Tooraweenah, NSW, 4 June 2012
AO-2012-076

Summary
What happened
On 4 June 2012, a Cessna Aircraft Company 182Q, registered VH-CWQ, with the pilot the sole person on board took off from Walgett in good weather conditions for a flight to Mudgee, New South Wales (NSW), initially climbing to 5,500 ft. During the flight, the cloud base lowered and the aircraft was descended until it was flying about 1,000 ft above flat terrain, either close to or in the cloud. The aircraft impacted a rock face in mountainous terrain near Tooraweenah, NSW. The pilot sustained fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.
What the ATSB found
The ATSB found that the risk to flight was increased by deteriorating weather conditions. The risks associated with continuing a flight under these circumstances are highlighted in the ATSB Transport Safety report AR-2011-050, Accidents involving Visual Flight Rules (VFR) pilots in Instrument Meteorological Conditions. Additionally, influences on pilot decision making behaviours are described in the ATSB Research Investigation report B2005/0127, General Aviation Pilot behaviours in the face of Adverse Weather.
Safety message
This accident provides a reminder to pilots of the insidious risks associated with reduced forward visibility when flying in or near the cloud base. The benefits of leaving a Flight Note with a suitable person in terms of ensuring the early commencement of a search for an overdue aircraft are also evident.
Pilots conducting VFR flights should remain aware that once they fly into weather conditions with reducing forward visibility, their ability to manoeuvre around approaching obstacles could be severely limited because obstacles may not be seen until they are too close to avoid. Such collisions are not often survivable.
Photos
To download, click the link, then right-click and select Save As.
Copyright in material obtained from other agencies, private individuals or organisations, belongs to those agencies, individuals or organisations and should be credited accordingly.
General details
Date: | 04 June 2012 | Investigation status: | Completed | ||
Time: | 1200 EST | Investigation level: | Complex - click for an explanation of investigation levels | ||
Location (show map): | 15 km north of Tooraweenah | ||||
State: | New South Wales | Occurrence type: | VFR into IMC | ||
Release date: | 04 April 2013 | Occurrence class: | Operational | ||
Report status: | Final | Occurrence category: | Accident | ||
Highest injury level: | Fatal |
Aircraft details
Aircraft manufacturer | Cessna Aircraft Company | |
---|---|---|
Aircraft model | 182 | |
Aircraft registration | VH-CWQ | |
Serial number | 18267031 | |
Type of operation | Private | |
Damage to aircraft | Serious | |
Departure point | Walgett, NSW | |
Destination | Mudgee, NSW |