The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced a transport safety investigation into an accident involving a turboprop Pilatus Porter aircraft near Moruya, NSW, on Saturday afternoon.
As reported to the ATSB, the aircraft was returning to Moruya airport after conducting a skydiving drop when it collided with terrain. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured.
The ATSB is deploying a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Brisbane offices, specialising in aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering, to the accident site.
Once on site on Sunday morning, investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities including site survey with a drone, wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties and witnesses, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
The ATSB asks anyone with video footage of the aircraft at any phase of the flight, or in the immediate aftermath of the accident, to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity.