Investigation number
AO-2008-048
Occurrence date
Location
Mount Isa Aero 342 deg/24 km
State
Queensland
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation level
Systemic
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Fuel starvation
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
Serious
On 17 July 2008, at approximately 0915 Eastern Standard Time, the pilot of a Piper Navajo PA-31 aircraft, registered VH-IHR, was en route from Century Mine, Qld to Mt Isa, Qld when the left engine lost power. Shortly after, the right engine lost power and the pilot attempted to land the aircraft in sparsley wooded bushland about 4 km from the Barkly Highway. The pilot received serious injuries, and the aircraft was seriously damaged.
A subsequent check of the aircraft found that the loss of power to both engines was due to fuel starvation.
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-31
Registration
VH-IHR
Serial number
31-8012077
Operation type
Charter
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Century Mine, Qld
Destination
Mount Isa, Qld
Damage
Destroyed