ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 348111
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| Date: | Sunday 19 November 2023 |
| Time: | c. 13:34 LT |
| Type: |  SIAI-Marchetti S.211 |
| Owner/operator: | Jetworks Aviation (owner: MV Air Pty Ltd) |
| Registration: | VH-DQJ |
| MSN: | 025/02-015 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1985 |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Port Phillip Bay, about 12km W of Mornington, VIC -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Melbourne-Essendon Fields Airport, VIC (MEB/YMEN) |
| Melbourne-Essendon Fields Airport, VIC (MEB/YMEN) | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Two SIAI-Marchetti S.211 jets (VH-DQJ and VH-DZJ) collided in mid-air over Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. VH-DZJ lost control and crashed, killing both occupants. VH-DQJ sustained damage but was able to safely return to Essendon Airport.
The flight operated using the callsign ‘Viper Formation’ and intended to undertake in-flight filming of both aircraft over Port Phillip Bay.
VH-DQJ was the formation leader, operating as ‘Viper 1’, with a pilot and safety pilot (see section titled Pilot details) on board. VH-DZJ was operating as ‘Viper 2’ with a pilot and camera operator on board.
As briefed prior to departure, the first of the manoeuvres involved Viper 1 flying inverted, straight and level, while Viper 2, flying upright, moved to the right line abreast position for filming.
After completing this manoeuvre, Viper 1 rolled inverted for a repeat of this manoeuvre. On this occasion, instead of moving toward the line abreast and level position, the pilot of Viper 2 manoeuvred to pass below and to the left of Viper 1.
The safety pilot in Viper 1 observed Viper 2 pass beneath and alerted the pilot of Viper 1 to the manoeuvre. The pilot of Viper 1 then rolled upright and contacted the pilot of Viper 2 to discuss the manoeuvre. The pilot of Viper 2 advised that passing underneath Viper 1 provided a good filming opportunity and requested to repeat the manoeuvre. After discussing the manoeuvre, the pilots decided to attempt the previous manoeuvre again, and Viper 2 moved to the right echelon position to recommence the manoeuvre.
As with the previous attempt, Viper 2 moved rearward to allow Viper 1 to roll inverted. As Viper 1 stabilised in the inverted attitude, Viper 2 began manoeuvring to pass beneath Viper 1. Viper 1 then stabilised in the inverted attitude and as Viper 2 approached, the vertical separation between the 2 aircraft reduced. Viper 2 passed beneath and began to pitch up and bank away from Viper 1. At 13:33, as Viper 2 climbed and banked left, the right wings of each aircraft collided.
VH-DZJ impacted the water and VH-DQJ landed safely at Melbourne-Essendon Fields Airport at 13:50.
The following air traffic control audio was recorded on the YMML channel from LiveATC (times are estimated):
1:35:00pm - VH-DQJ - Uh I think that uh Viper two has uh entered the water. Viper one, mayday mayday mayday.
1:35:08pm - Melbourne - Viper one, roger the mayday and you anticipate Viper two into the water?
1:35:13pm - VH-DQJ - I'm anticipating Viper two in the water. We can see a splash mark. Not sure what's going on down there. We have a little bit of leading edge damage but we're flying okay.
1:35:21pm - Melbourne - Viper one okay, squawk ident if you're able.
1:36:49pm - VH-DQJ - P-O-B two and Viper one is also P-O-B two.
1:36:52pm - Melbourne - Viper one o-
1:39:18pm - Melbourne - (Hey hey) are you returning to Essendon?
1:39:20pm - VH-DQJ - Viper one is (disabled turned to)
1:39:24pm - Melbourne - Viper one thanks for that, if you have time squawk three four five four
1:39:28pm - VH-DQJ - Three four five four standby
1:40:56pm - VH-DQJ - Via West Gate if uh we're uh I'm open we're we're flying uh well okay and uh we're happy to go back in uh in (any way)
1:41:04pm - Melbourne - Viper one okay copy for a normal approach and landing and you just anticipate tracking north along the coast then?
1:41:11pm - VH-DQJ - Yeah we are just to keep it close and uh and requesting runway (three) six *** runway six anyway *** request (to be requiring that)
1:41:18pm - Melbourne - Viper one okay understood you can expect runway two six I'll let them know and what's your preferred altitude I see you maintaining two thousand six hundred there?
1:41:26pm - VH-DQJ - Look if we can we can maintain two thousand five hundred uh until we're on uh close to a downwind and then we'll descend from there
1:41:35pm - Melbourne - Viper one no problem two thousand five hundred I'll just have a chat with Moorabbin tower as well
1:41:42pm - VH-DQJ - Thjanks
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8428995/ex-military-jet-plunges-into-water-after-mid-air-crash/?cs=14231
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-19/vic-aircraft-incident-mount-martha/103123770
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/jet-crashes-into-port-phillip-bay-emergency-services-searching-water-20231119-p5el4e.html
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/20/plane-crash-mid-air-port-phillip-bay-search-for-pilot-camera-operator-melbourne-victoria
https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/aircraft-register?search_api_fulltext=DQJ
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/VHDQJ/history/20231119/0232Z/YMEN/YMEN
https://www.jetworksaviation.com.au/
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/75421_1524727951.jpg (photo)
https://www.9news.com.au/national/mount-martha-search-resumes-for-two-missing-after-ex-military-plane-in-victoria-port-phillip-bay/eac0943b-e03a-4177-aa2a-7f0fd23b5235
History of this aircraft
Ex Republic of Singapore Air Force 394
Location
Media:
A search and rescue operation is underway tonight after a mid-air tragedy over Port Phillip Bay.
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) November 19, 2023
The two former military aircraft collided while flying in formation off Mount Martha. @penelopeliersch @gillianlant #9News pic.twitter.com/WDZjgvKnFW
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Nov-2023 08:06 | gerard57 | Added |
| 19-Nov-2023 08:23 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Other fatalities] |
| 19-Nov-2023 08:27 | Bidgee | Updated [Registration, Cn, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source] |
| 19-Nov-2023 08:58 | gerard57 | Updated [Source] |
| 19-Nov-2023 10:26 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Embed code] |
| 19-Nov-2023 10:45 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Source, Embed code] |
| 19-Nov-2023 14:26 | Saccani | Updated [Location, Damage, Narrative] |
| 19-Nov-2023 17:51 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Location, Source] |
| 19-Nov-2023 18:23 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Operator, Source, Narrative, Category] |
| 19-Nov-2023 18:26 | RobertMB | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 19-Nov-2023 18:48 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source] |
| 20-Nov-2023 07:46 | Anon. | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 20-Nov-2023 07:49 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source] |
| 20-Nov-2023 08:24 | Anon. | Updated [Time, Narrative] |
| 17-Jan-2024 19:07 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Phase, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report] |
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