Summary
VH-CNE was one of several aircraft which was flown from Bankstown to Rylstone for a "fly-in" day.
During the day the student pilot, a resident of a nearby town, arranged to accompany the instructor
on a flight to have acrobatics demonstrated to him for the first time. The two pilots were subsequently
observed to board the aircraft and, in accordance with normal instructional practice, the student occupied
the left seat and the instructor the right seat. The aircraft then took off in a north-westerly direction.
Subsequently several witnesses situated some four miles east of the departure point observed an aircraft
performing a series of acrobatic manoeuvres in that area. The aircraft progressively lost height as the
Vnanoeuvres continued and it did not resume normal flight until it was at a height estimated to be only a few
hundred feet above ground level. It was then observed to commence climbing and, at a height of about
1,000 feet, perform a loop type manoeuvre. Recovery from this manoeuvre appeared to progress to the
stage of a steep dive and the aircraft then passed out of sight behind the crest of a hill. There was no
further sighting of the aircraft in flight and, shortly after it passed out of sight, two of the witnesses heard
a loud noise which they subsequently assumed to be the noise of the aircraft crashing. When VH-CNE did
not return to the point of departure, and radio communication with it was not established, an air and ground
search was commenced and the wreckage was subsequently located in timbered terrain on the following
morning. Detailed examination of the wreckage indicated that initial impact had been with a tree and that the
aircraft had been flying at a relatively high speed in a 20° nose down attitude. This is consistent with
recovery from a loop type manoeuvre.
