Narrative:
A Boeing 737-300 Air Tanker collided with terrain after completing a fire-retardant drop while engaged in a fire fighting mission in Fitzgerald River National Park, Australia. Both occupants survived the crash. The aircraft was consumed by fire.
The aircraft had been contracted by the Australian National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) and was flown to Australia in December 2022.
» globeecho.com
» flightradar24.com
» atsb.gov.au
| Status: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
| Date: | Monday 6 February 2023 |
| Time: | c. 16:30 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-3H4 (WL) |
| Operator: | Coulson Aviation |
| Registration: | N619SW |
| MSN: | 28035/2762 |
| First flight: | 1995-10-18 (27 years 4 months) |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-3B1 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Fitzgerald River National Park, WA ( Australia)
|
| Phase: | Maneuvering (MNV) |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | Bussellton Airport, WA (BQB/YBLN), Australia |
| Bussellton Airport, WA (BQB/YBLN), Australia |
A Boeing 737-300 Air Tanker collided with terrain after completing a fire-retardant drop while engaged in a fire fighting mission in Fitzgerald River National Park, Australia. Both occupants survived the crash. The aircraft was consumed by fire.
The aircraft had been contracted by the Australian National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) and was flown to Australia in December 2022.
Accident investigation:
|
Sources:
» theage.com.au» globeecho.com
» flightradar24.com
» atsb.gov.au
Photos
Video, social media
Images have emerged of the moments after a Boeing 737 crashed south of Ravensthorpe on Monday.
— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) February 7, 2023
The fire-fighting plane went down in Fitzgerald River National Park, with the two pilots onboard miraculously walking away with only minor injuries. #9News pic.twitter.com/1LZoagzmb5
Aircraft history
| date | registration | operator | remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 October 1995 | N619SW | Boeing | first flight |
| 9 November 1995 | N619SW | Southwest Airlines | delivered |
| 1 August 2017 | N619SW | Southwest Airlines | withdrawn from use |
| 14 August 2017 | N619SW | Coulson | |
| 4 July 2022 | N619SW | Coulson | conversion to Air Tanker completed at Port Alberni, Canada |
| 9-12 December 2022 | N619SW | Coulson | ferried to Australia |
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Bussellton Airport, WA to Bussellton Airport, WA as the crow flies is 19956 km (12473 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Bussellton Airport, WA to Bussellton Airport, WA as the crow flies is 19956 km (12473 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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