Bad news.
Two killed in NSW plane crash
An ex-military jet that crashed in central NSW today killing two men on a joyflight may have broken up in midair.The pair were flying from Bathurst in a Strikemaster aerobatics aircraft which went down in the Winburndale Nature Reserve in the Turon State Forest today.
The exact time of the crash is unclear but Canberra-based Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) requested NRMA CareFlight send a helicopter to look for the missing aircraft about 3pm (AEST).
Former miliary jets are usually equipped with ejector seats, but it’s not clear whether this aircraft had them.
NRMA CareFlight senior pilot Ken Vote, who first spotted the wreckage, said the tail of the aircraft was some distance from its fuselage.
“I would suspect that it’s suffered some sort of in-flight break-up,” he said.
“It’s hard to imagine that this piece has hit the ground with the rest of it and bounced a half a mile through the trees.
“It was certainly confirmed in my mind, even when I first arrived, that there would be no survivors.”
He said the crash ignited a bushfire that spread over four hectares.
“The search in fact was quite easy because about 15 miles (24km) out I saw an isolated bushfire and suspected that this may have been started by an aircraft accident,” Mr Vote said.
Two firefighting aircraft arrived on the scene in response to reports of a bushfire, but were unaware what had caused it, Mr Vote said.
An NRMA CareFlight paramedic winched down to the main crash site about 5pm (AEST) confirmed that both men were dead.
NSW Police say it will take some time to reach the site by land because of the remote, difficult terrain.
– AAP
By: JDK - 9th October 2006 at 14:20
Update on the ATSB website Here
Says (in full):
MEDIA RELEASE
43
ATSB investigation into Strikemaster jet fatal accident near Bathurst
09 October 2006
The ATSB’s on-site investigation into the 5 October 2006 fatal accident involving a BAC-167 Strikemaster jet, NE of Bathurst, NSW, is continuing. Access to the accident site has been hampered by the presence of a large bushfire, which is currently being fought by the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s on-site investigation team has reported that the aircraft wreckage trail extends more than 1 kilometre. Team members have been able to access some of the aircraft wreckage during a period of limited access to the accident site over the last 2 days. During that time, the team located and examined the aircraft’s right wing and reported that the wing had separated from the aircraft fuselage in-flight.
At this stage, the ATSB does not know where in the wreckage trail sequence the wing is located, or the reason for the separation.
ATSB investigators will continue their work at the accident site over the coming days, subject to gaining safe access. Investigators have also been accessing the operator’s aircraft maintenance and operational documentation. A preliminary factual report will be issued in about 30 days.
Witnesses are asked to call the ATSB on 1800 020 616.
Media Contact: Mr George Nadal Tel: 1800 020 616
By: JägerMarty - 7th October 2006 at 10:19
Good call Moggy,
I’m not a jet fan really but did enjoy seeing that little hotrod at a few airshows over the years. Thoughts go to their nearest and dearest.
By: Moggy C - 6th October 2006 at 17:04
Both for clarity, and out of respect for two dead men I have split the discussion on ejection seats off as a separate thread. Feel free to post relevant comments in either
Moggy
Moderator
By: ALBERT ROSS - 6th October 2006 at 11:36
Here is the actual aircraft in question, I believe – VH-AKY. I am presuming this was origiinally with the Singapore Air Defense Command and was restored to its delivery scheme?
I know the RNZAF Strikemasters all had to be re-sparred due to corrosion problems and in the end, they replaced them with the Aermacchi MB.339s because of this. I don’t know if Singapore had the same problems operating the type in very humid conditions, but I guess any still airworthy would have been completely overhauled and safe to fly.
By: stringbag - 6th October 2006 at 10:25
Just received word about this today.
Condolences to both the crew’s families.
By: QldSpitty - 6th October 2006 at 08:12
Saddening and our thoughts to the families.
By: David Burke - 5th October 2006 at 13:17
Firstly very sad to hear of the loss of the crew.As for an inflight break up half a mile isn’t far in relative terms.Look at a number of aircraft accidents and wreckage spread from a high spead impact can be of that order. The JP and Strikemaster is very well known in terms of fatigue life and as such is a very simple airframe. I cannot see major problems for operators as they cannot be clocking up anything like the fatigue hours that the RAF operated machines did .
By: Gromit - 5th October 2006 at 13:13
Update:
Bellinda Kontominas, AAP
October 5, 2006 – 8:30PM
Two men are confirmed dead after their plane crashed during a joyflight near Bathurst today.
The two-seater Strikemaster aerobatics plane crashed in remote bushland at Winburndale, about 15 kilometres north-east of Bathurst.
The crash ignited a four-hectare bushfire in the Turon State Forest.
Ken Vote, senior pilot for NRMA Careflight Central West, said the plane had crashed in a highly inaccessible area about 700m from the Turon River.
Mr Vote said the wreckage was split into three pieces, and the aircraft’s tail had landed about 1500m from the main wreckage.
“From what I saw flying over, I believe the aircraft suffered some type of in-flight break-up,” he said. “The different parts of the wreckage were not caused by the plane bouncing.”
Australian Search and Rescue placed an emergency call to NRMA CareFlight about 3.15pm on Thursday after the aircraft was reported several hours overdue.
The pilot is believed to be Nick Costin, owner of Jet Fighter Flights, which conducts joyflights out of Bathurst, Newcastle and the Blue Mountains.
Mr Costin’s close friend and former flying partner Pete Hannerman said he was unable to provide any information on how the plane had crashed. “I know very little … I just can’t,” he said.
However, Mr Hanneman’s wife, Heather, described Mr Costin as “very quiet, very pleasant, very charming” and passionate about flying.
Ms Hanneman, who is also a pilot, said the company was “very successful. They never had any incidents before, none whatsoever.”
Mr Costin, an ex-Royal Air Force weapons systems engineer, had started taking on more of the flights himself, Ms Hanneman said.
The Strikemaster is a vintage single engine ”war bird” first used by the RAF as a basic trainer in 1953.
Mr Costin’s company is believed to own three Strikemaster jet fighter/bombers that formerly belonged to the New Zealand and Singaporean militaries.
They are combat aircraft, capable of carrying 2000 pounds of bombs backed up with two machine-guns and can reach speeds of 900 km/h.
However, use of the planes was restricted after the Royal New Zealand Air Force found fatigue cracking in the wings of its aircraft.
The company’s website says its most popular flights are “low-level high-speed strike” missions that include a simulated weapons release, aerobatics and air combat manoeuvring.
The 25-minute flights, costing $2095 involve passengers wearing flying suits, complete with helmets and oxygen masks.
Passengers would attend a “top secret” briefing and wear full Top Gun flight gear. They would then “bomb” pre-ordained targets.
Because of the greater risk involved in such flights, passengers (and any victims of a potential crash on the ground) are insured for $10 million.
The company’s website says: “All adventure activities have an element of risk, however safety is paramount to all of the company’s flights. The aircraft are carefully maintained and safety equipment is carried on every flight.”
However, there has been controversy about operating vintage single-engined jets for joy flights.
Similar flights used to operate from Bankstown but are believed to have been banned because of the danger of the planes crashing into nearby homes.
The ejection seats in the Strikemasters have also been disarmed.
By: JDK - 5th October 2006 at 13:01
Bruce, I don’t think anyone would believe you, with your vintage aviation commitment, likely to be callous.
By: Bruce - 5th October 2006 at 12:08
Sorry, I didnt mean to sound callous. My condolences are, of course sent to the bereaved.
Bruce
By: JDK - 5th October 2006 at 12:05
First. My condolances to the families.
Second. Early days, news driven comment. The Age is a broadsheet, but it’s a newspaper.
Third. As Bruce says, and info heads-up for interested parties.
By: Bruce - 5th October 2006 at 12:00
Possible in flight break up.
That could have severe ramifications for all Jet Provost type aircraft.
Bruce
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October 5, 2006 at 11:57 am