Britten Norman BN2A, VH-BNN, Bondi Beach, NSW, 5 September 1971

Summary

At approximately 1045 hours EST, on 5 September, 1971, a parachutist landed in the sea close to Mackenzie's Point, following a free fall type descent from 10, 000 feet. Rescue attempts were made but the parachutist was lost beneath the surface, in rough water, for several minutes and was subsequently pulled ashore at Bondi Beach in an unconscious state. Following resuscitation attempts the parachutist was admitted to hospital, where she died several days later on 11 September without regaining consciousness.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101247
Occurrence date 05/09/1971
Location Bondi Beach
Report release date 12/02/1973
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Aviation occurrence category Miscellaneous - Other
Occurrence class Accident
Highest injury level Fatal

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Britten Norman
Model BN2A
Registration VH-BNN
Operation type Sports Aviation
Departure point Sydney
Destination Sydney
Damage Nil

Piper PA28/180 Cherokee, VH-POK, Narromine, NSW, 14 November 1971

Summary

The four occupants of the aircraft were members of Condobolin Aero Club and each held a Private Pilot Licence. Earlier in the day they had flown from Condobolin to Narromine to take part in a flying competition. Four other club members had also flown to Narromine in another Club aircraft. A flight plan covering both the outward and the return flight of VH-POK had been submitted to Dubbo Flight Service Unit by telephone. At a prize-giving ceremony held in the clubrooms at the conclusion of the flying competition drinks had been served.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101263
Occurrence date 14/11/1971
Location Narromine
Report release date 07/02/1973
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 Fatal

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Piper Aircraft Corp
Model PA-28
Registration VH-POK
Operation type Private
Departure point Narromine
Destination Condobolin
Damage Destroyed

Cessna 172B, VH-KFG, Camden, NSW, 15 August 1971

Summary

At approximately 1433 hours EST on 15 August, 1971, a parachutist was fatally injured by impact with the ground following a static line descent near Camden, New South Wales. The parachutist, was making his eighth parachute descent. As a result of static line release the pilot chute deployed and the bag was drawn from the pack, but after partial extension of the rigging lines the deployment sequence ceased. When the parachutist's equipment was subsequently inspected the main parachute, except for a small portion, was still contained in its bag and the reserve parachute ripcord had not been operated.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101244
Occurrence date 15/08/1971
Location Camden
Report release date 30/06/1972
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Aviation occurrence category Miscellaneous - Other
Occurrence class Accident
Highest injury level Fatal

Aircraft details

Model 172B
Registration VH-KFG
Operation type Sports Aviation
Departure point Camden
Destination Camden
Damage Nil

Cessna 172H, VH-KWX, Nowra NSW, 5 June 1971

Summary

The flight had been planned as a scenic tour of the snowfields near Cooma and two of the passengers had travelled a considerable distance to participate. The forecast ordered for the route indicated that the weather was unsatisfactory and the flight was postponed and a second forecast was then obtained. The pilot decided that the flight was possible under the Visual Flight Rules although the first part of the route would have to be flown above cloud. After taking off the aircraft climbed through a hole in the cloud and set course, climbing to 8, 000 feet on top of complete cloud cover. Shortly afterwards the pilot was advised by radio that a light aircraft in the area had reported 8/8 cloud, base 5,500 feet and the pilot elected to descend through the cloud although he held no instrument rating and had virtually no experience of instrument flying. With the aircraft still in cloud at 4,200 feet, the pilot turned back towards Wollongong and began to climb to regain visual flight. Before he was able to top the cloud, the instruments appeared to give some unexpected indications and the pilot lost control. Several violent manoeuvres then took place before control was regained and the climb resumed. Again the pilot was unable to maintain control and eventually the aircraft broke cloud just above heavy timber in conditions of very limited visibility. This situation left the pilot with a severely restricted choice of alternatives and the aircraft was subsequently flown into the tops of the trees and crashed to the ground 120 feet below.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101234
Occurrence date 05/06/1971
Location Nowra
Report release date 06/10/1971
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 Cessna Aircraft Company
Model 172
Registration VH-KWX
Operation type Private
Departure point Wollongong
Destination Wollongong
Damage Destroyed

Cessna 150F, VH-DFD and Cessna 182K, VH-GAC, Bankstown NSW, 14 June 1971

Summary

At 1314 hours EST on 14 June, 1971, a Cessna 150F aircraft, registered VH-DFD, and a Cessna 182K aircraft, registered VH-GAC, collided at a height of 1000 feet above ground level whilst on the downwind leg of a circuit of the aerodrome prior to landing on Runway 18 at Bankstown Airport, New South Wales. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage but they remained in flight and under control and each pilot was able to complete a normal landing on Runway 18 without further damage to either aircraft. Both aircraft continued in flight, completed the remainder of the circuit procedure and landed on the 18 direction landing area at Bankstown at 1318 hours and 1319| hours respectively.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101235
Occurrence date 14/06/1971
Location Bankstown
Report release date 10/07/1972
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Aviation occurrence category Airborne collision
Occurrence class Accident
Highest injury level None

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Cessna Aircraft Company
Model 150
Registration VH-DFD
Operation type Private
Departure point Bankstown
Destination Bankstown
Damage Substantial

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Cessna Aircraft Company
Model 182
Registration VH-GAC
Operation type Charter
Departure point Bankstown
Destination Bankstown
Damage Substantial

Beech E33, VH-TYG, Wellington, NSW, 31 May 1971

Summary

The pilot and the passengers, all residents of Sydney, had flown in the aircraft from Hoxton Park to Dubbo two days earlier. All four took part in bowling club activities during the week-end and, early on Monday morning, proceeded to Dubbo aerodrome to prepare for the return flight. Before departure the pilot received, from the Dubbo Flight Service Unit, area forecasts for the proposed flight and terminal forecasts for several aerodromes including Bathurst and Bankstown. After take-off the pilot made a normal departure report. This was the last transmission heard from the aircraft.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101232
Occurrence date 31/05/1971
Location Wellington
Report release date 08/05/1972
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 Fatal

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Beech Aircraft Corp
Model 33
Registration VH-TYG
Operation type Private
Departure point Dubbo
Destination Hoxton Park
Damage Destroyed

Cessna 172D, VH-IAG, Camden, NSW, 21 February 1971

Summary

At about 1530 hours EST on the twenty-first of February, 1972, a parachutist was drowned in a dam following a static line parachute descent. The student parachutist, was making her first jump and was under the supervision of the Sydney Parachute Group, which had conducted her training. The training included instruction in the techniques of aircraft exits, canopy control, and landing procedure. The parachutist was equipped with a 28 foot diameter main parachute and a 24 foot diameter reserve parachute. For this descent the main parachute was to be operated by means of a static line and the reserve was equipped with a hand operated ripcord. No defect was discovered in either parachute, the harness, or any of the release mechanisms, which might have contributed to the accident.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101209
Occurrence date 21/02/1971
Location Camden
Report release date 08/05/1972
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Aviation occurrence category Miscellaneous - Other
Occurrence class Accident
Highest injury level Fatal

Aircraft details

Model 172D
Registration VH-IAG
Operation type Sports Aviation
Departure point Camden
Destination Camden
Damage Nil

Piper PA28-180 Cherokee, VH-PPQ, Narrabri, NSW, 4 February 1971

Summary

A section of road near Narrabri West had been marked for use as an emergency airstrip in connection with flood relief. This section, some 3000 feet in length, was obstruction free over a width of approximately 100 feet, the bituminous sealed road in the centre being 18 feet wide. At the southern end of the selected area a power line crossed the road, 28 feet above the surface, with one supporting pole adjacent to the western side of the road. A line indicating the strip threshold had been painted across the road 140 feet north of this position and a large Cross was painted on the road surface immediately below the power line. The steepness of the approach gradient had been recognised and a diagram of the situation was displayed in the pilot briefing room at Narrabri aerodrome. The strip was in constant use by light aircraft, but although the pilot had been engaged on flood relief for several days he had not previously landed at the strip. On this occasion the pilot sought information concerning the strip before departing Narrabri and he determined the location and length of the strip, but he has since stated that he was not aware of the presence of the wires. He flew across the emergency strip at about the mid point and joined left downwind for a landing from the south, approaching over the wires. The approach was lower than that made by other aircraft and the nosewheel assembly contacted the wires. The aircraft struck the ground in a steep nose down attitude, 116 feet from the power lines and 24 feet short of the strip threshold.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101204
Occurrence date 04/02/1971
Location Narrabri
Report release date 13/09/1971
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Aviation occurrence category Wirestrike
Occurrence class Accident
Highest injury level Fatal

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Piper Aircraft Corp
Model PA-28
Registration VH-PPQ
Operation type Aerial Work
Departure point Narrabri
Destination Emergency airstrip
Damage Substantial

DC8-63 Aircraft CF-CPQ and Boeing 727 Aircraft VH-TJA at Sydney (Kingsford- Smith) Airport NSW, 29 January 1971

Summary

At approximately 2137 hours Eastern Standard Time on 29 January 1971, a Trans-Australia Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft, VH-TJA, struck the tail fin of a Canadian Pacific Airlines DC8-63 aircraft, CF-CPQ, whilst the former was taking off on Runway 16 at Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport, New South Wales. Both aircraft were engaged in regular public transport services and the Boeing 727 aircraft continued with its take-off but landed again at Sydney Airport 40 minutes later after dumping fuel and when preparations for the emergency landing had been completed. At the time of the collision the DC8-63 aircraft was on the ground, having just landed, and it taxied under its own power to the parking apron. Both aircraft were substantially damaged in the collision but none of the 240 persons on board the two aircraft was injured.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101202
Occurrence date 29/01/1971
Location Sydney
Report release date 20/08/1971
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Highest injury level None

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
Model DC-8
Registration C-FCPQ
Operation type Air Transport High Capacity
Departure point Nadi, Fiji
Destination Sydney, NSW
Damage Substantial

Aircraft details

Manufacturer The Boeing Company
Model 727
Registration VH-TJA
Operation type Air Transport High Capacity
Departure point Sydney, NSW
Destination Perth, WA
Damage Substantial

Transavia PL-12 Airtruk, VH-TRJ, Tumbarumba, NSW, 17 January 1971

Summary

The aircraft was being flown at 100 feet above the ground for the purpose of spreading superphosphate. The terrain was hilly and varied in nature from heavily timbered to open paddocks with scattered shade trees. The aircraft was on the last run of a sortie and the hopper load had been almost completely discharged when the engine suddenly ceased to develop power. The pilot gained what height was possible and made a brief check of the engine controls and instruments but he was unable to diagnose the cause of the engine failure. He searched for a place to land and realised that the only area offering a chance of success was to his right and slightly ahead, but very close. He selected full flap and made an approach but noticed, as he neared the field, that the speed was higher than normal for a glide approach. The touchdown was satisfactory but the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it ran through a fence and into a tree lined creek. The aircraft remained upright and there was no fire. The entrance door was distorted and jammed and the pilot evacuated the aircraft through the area of the broken windscreen. The total length of the field was 800 feet.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number 197101200
Occurrence date 17/01/1971
Location Tumbarumba
Report release date 25/06/1971
Report status Final
Investigation type Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status Completed
Mode of transport Aviation
Occurrence class Accident
Highest injury level None

Aircraft details

Manufacturer Transavia Corp Pty Ltd
Model PL-12
Registration VH-TRJ
Operation type Aerial Work
Departure point Aricultural Strip
Destination Aricultural Strip
Damage Substantial