Accident Transavia PL-12 Airtruk VH-IVH,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 218978
 
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Date:Tuesday 2 August 1988
Time:14:32
Type:Silhouette image of generic PL12 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Transavia PL-12 Airtruk
Owner/operator:
Registration: VH-IVH
MSN: G353
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:15km SW of Willow Tree, NSW -   Australia
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Agricultural
Departure airport:Paraweena Highlands, NSW
Destination airport:Paraweena Highlands, NSW
Investigating agency: BASI
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot had been operating the aircraft on gypsum spreading operations in mountainous terrain during the morning. The task involved flying along a valley, crossing a ridge at the head of the valley and spreading the gypsum on the western slopes of the ridge. Shortly after the aircraft departed on the accident flight, smoke was observed rising from the valley. It was discovered that the aircraft had impacted the side of the valley with a high rate of descent and very low forward speed. The hopper load had not been jettisoned prior to impact and the hopper doors were closed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the subsequent fire. The investigation did not reveal the presence of any pre-existing mechanical defect which might have contributed to the accident. The engine was operating at high power at the time of impact. Because of the damage to the aircraft, the hopper and fuel loads were not able to be precisely determined. Evidence suggested that the aircraft was probably heavier than the maximum all up weight approved for agricultural operations. On previous flights the aircraft had been observed to orbit over the valley in order to gain sufficient height to safely clear the ridge. It is considered possible that on this occasion the pilot commenced the orbit from a position and height which did not allow sufficient room for the manoeuvre to be completed at moderate bank angles. It was evident that during the orbit the aircraft stalled and entered an incipient spin. Insufficient height remained to permit recovery before impact with the ground. The weather conditions at the time were conducive to the formation of downdrafts, but whether this phenomenon had any bearing on the loss of control leading to the accident was not established. In addition, the reason that the hopper load was not jettisoned could not be determined.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: BASI
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1988/aair/aair198802389/
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/32951/aair198802389.pdf

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
14 November 1984 VH-IVH 0 16km E of Andamooka, SA sub

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
04-Dec-2018 09:54 Pineapple Added
08-Feb-2022 23:21 Ron Averes Updated [Aircraft type]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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