ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 28578
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 13 April 1985 |
| Time: | 15:50 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain |
| Owner/operator: | Oxley Airlines |
| Registration: | VH-AOX |
| MSN: | 31-7852049 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Port Macquarie, NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Port Macquarie, NSW (PQQ/YPMQ) |
| Coffs Harbour, NSW (CFS/YCFS) | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot reported that shortly after the aircraft became airborne, he noted a substantial change in propeller pitch noise and an associated loss of performance. Insufficient runway remained to permit a landing straight ahead. The pilot raised the landing gear and flap, however the aircraft failed to climb and the airspeed decayed to below the safe single engine speed.
The take-off attempt was abandoned and a forced landing was carried out off the end of the runway. The rear fuselage impacted heavily on a dirt bank 78 metres beyond the runway threshold, following which the aircraft passed through a fence and slid for a further 78 metres before coming to rest.
No fault was subsequently found with the engines or systems of the aircraft which might have explained the reported loss of performance. Calculations indicated that the weight of the aircraft at the time of take-off was close to the maximum allowable, but the centre of gravity was aft of the rear limit.
Several of the passengers indicated that the aircraft rotated sharply to an unusually high nose attitude as it became airborne. The pilot's action in raising the flap when he perceived the power loss was contrary to the emergency procedures for the type, and probably resulted in sink and a further reduction in airspeed.
According to an eyewitness report:
" [VH-AOX] got above tree line, Right engine apparently coughed, pilot retarded throttles and landed with the gear up. Aircraft spar broken. [All nine] occupants from McCongaheys construction all got out okay."
Aircraft was written off (damaged beyond repair); as the eyewitness report (and the ATSB report) confirms, there were NO fatalities, despite incorrect reports in some sources of three persons on board being killed.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. Eyewitness report
2. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1985/aair/aair198502530.aspx
3. http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/28104/aair198502530.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 20-Oct-2011 02:50 | Bud | Updated [Date, Time, Total occupants, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 09-Apr-2014 22:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Oct-2017 20:27 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 06-Feb-2021 08:22 | Captain | Updated [Accident report] |
| 06-Feb-2021 08:22 | harro | Updated [Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation