Summary
As he approached the Macpherson Range the pilot was forced to fly around some hills in order to stay below the cloud base. After crossing a ridge line where the gap beneath the cloud was about 300 feet, the pilot was confronted by a higher ridge. He subsequently advised that the aircraft could not out-climb the terrain and he carried out a controlled entry into the jungle canopy about 200 feet below the top of the ridge. Both wings were torn off however the cabin area came to rest intact.
Occurrence summary
| Investigation number | 198400052 |
|---|---|
| Occurrence date | 01/12/1984 |
| Location | 50 Km SW of Coolangatta |
| Report release date | 10/05/1985 |
| Report status | Final |
| Investigation type | Occurrence Investigation |
| Investigation status | Completed |
| Mode of transport | Aviation |
| Aviation occurrence category | Collision with terrain |
| Occurrence class | Accident |
| Highest injury level | Minor |
Aircraft details
| Manufacturer | American Aircraft Corp |
|---|---|
| Model | AA-5 |
| Registration | VH-SZV |
| Operation type | Private |
| Departure point | Archerfield QLD |
| Destination | Taree NSW |
| Damage | Destroyed |