ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 207363
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| Date: | Sunday 15 May 1977 |
| Time: | 19:15 |
| Type: |  Cessna 210K |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | VH-RPV |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 1km NE of Kingscote Airport, Kangaroo Island, SA -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Kingscote Airport YKSC |
| YPAD | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The Seventh Day Adventist Church Youth Club arranged a day excursion visit to Kangaroo Island for a number of its members. A series of shuttle flights using four light aircraft was made to transport the members concerned from Adelaide to Kingscote during the morning. VH-RPV made two flights for this purpose and arrived at Kingscote on the second occasion at 1015 hours.
As the day progressed it became apparent that all the flights required to return the Club members to Adelaide during the afternoon could not be completed in daylight. As the pilot held a Class 4 Instrument Rating, and was therefore qualified to fly by night in VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions), it was arranged that he would make three flights back to Adelaide in VH-RPV for this purpose.
VH-RPV completed it's second flight to Adelaide with returning passengers at 1810 hours, 21 minute: after the end of daylight. It departed Adelaide again at 1823 hours and, at 1852 hours, the pilot reported "circuit area Kingscote, will be landing runway two zero, cancel sarwatch". This report was acknowledged by Adelaide Flight Service Unit and the pilot read back his call sign. No further communications were received from the aircraft.
The available evidence indicates that the aircraft completed a landing on runway 20, which was equipped with electric runway lighting, and the remaining five Club members boarded. It then made a take-off from the same runway and turned left on to a northerly heading. When in a position to the north-east of the aerodrome, the aircraft entered a steep spiral descent which continued until it struck the ground in a steep, left wing down, nose down attitude. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and subsequent fire.
Detailed examination of the aircraft wreckage did not reveal evidence of any malfunction or mechanical failure which might have contributed to the accident. The landing gear and flaps were retracted and the engine had apparently been delivering substantial power at impact.
Weather conditions at Kingscote at the time of the accident were fine. The surface wind was from the south-east, at 10 knots, there was no cloud and the visibility was unrestricted. There was no moon and the night was dark. The pilot of an aircraft taking off from runway 20 would have had virtually no ground reference in the darkness and it would have been necessary to fly by reference to the aircraft instruments.
The pilot obtained his Class 4 Instrument Rating about one year prior to the accident and, at that time, his night flying experience amounted to some 11 hours. His log book was not recovered and his total night flying experience at the time of the accident was not positively established but was probably about 20 hours.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1977/aair/197704462/
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5226260/197704462.pdf
Hamburger Abendblatt 16 May 1977
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 11-Mar-2018 15:36 | TB | Added |
| 02-Aug-2018 22:42 | Pineapple | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Jun-2023 00:17 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]] |
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