The ATSB is investigating a midair collision involving two Van’s RV-7 light aircraft at Wedderburn, south of Sydney, on Sunday.
As reported to the ATSB, the two aircraft had been involved in a formation flight of four aircraft that was returning to land at Wedderburn Airport when the collision occurred. One of the aircraft involved in the collision landed safety but the other aircraft collided with terrain and its pilot was fatally injured.
A team of four transport safety investigators from the ATSB's Perth, Canberra and Brisbane offices, with experience in aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering, is preparing to deploy to the accident site to begin evidence-collecting activities.
Over coming days, investigators will undertake site mapping, examine aircraft wreckage and damage, and recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
Investigators will also interview the other pilots involved in the formation flight, as well as other witnesses and involved parties. They will also collect relevant recorded information including any air traffic control and flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed and has footage of the accident, or who has footage of either aircraft in any phase of their flights, to contact us via the witness form on our website at their earliest convenience.
The ATSB will release a preliminary report detailing factual information established in the investigation’s evidence-gathering phase in about two months. A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation and will detail analysis and findings.
However, if at any point during the investigation we uncover any critical safety issues we will immediately inform relevant parties so they can take safety actions.