On Sunday, 26 July 1998, at about 1324 EST, a Cessna A185E
floatplane, VH-HTS, crashed onto a ridge forming the southern shore
of Calabash Bay NSW. The accident occurred during a go-around
manoeuvre following an unsuccessful landing approach to the Berowra
water alighting area. At the time of the accident the Calabash Bay
area was affected by strong winds, widespread rain and showers, low
cloud, and reduced visibility. The aircraft was operated by South
Pacific Seaplanes and was undertaking a charter flight from Palm
Beach to Berowra. All five occupants, including the pilot, suffered
fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
The investigation found that the circumstances of the accident
were consistent with uncontrolled flight into terrain. The decision
by the pilot to carry out a go-around into a confined area
surrounded by steep-sided terrain was the culminating factor in a
combination of local factors, organisational deficiencies and
inadequate safety defences. Local factors included poor weather
conditions, a lack of formal procedures to provide safe methods of
operation, and commercial pressures. Organisational deficiencies
were identified within South Pacific Seaplanes concerning the
management and conduct of charter operations carried out by that
company, and in the safety regulation of those operations by the
Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
During the investigation a number of safety deficiencies were
identified. Safety actions to address those deficiencies are
currently being formulated by the Bureau of Air Safety
Investigation. A description of those deficiencies, and
corresponding safety actions, will be summarised in section 4 of
the final report.