13 July 2012
At about 0930 Eastern Standard Time on 28 May 2012, a Cessna Aircraft 172, registered VH-WLF, departed Wentworth Aerodrome, New South Wales on a solo private flight in the local area. No details of the intended flight were submitted to Air Traffic Services or left with any other person.
The police were notified of the failure of the aircraft to return to Wentworth Aerodrome on the afternoon of 29 May 2012. An extensive search and rescue operation commenced shortly after and the accident site was identified by the crew of a search helicopter at about 1730 on 30 May 2012, about 10 km west-south-west of the aerodrome. Upon landing, the helicopter crew established that the pilot had sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a post-impact fire.
Examination of the wreckage by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) identified that the aircraft impacted the terrain at a significant descent angle. All of the major aircraft components were accounted for in the vicinity of the accident site, with the exception of the left cabin door. There was no evidence of any pre-impact damage or fire. Continuity of the flight control system to the cockpit area was established. A number of cockpit instruments were retained for further technical examination.
On-site examination of the aircraft's propeller and engine revealed no pre-impact abnormalities. Damage to the propeller and engine crankshaft was consistent with their failure while under power.
Fuel and other aircraft records indicated that the aircraft was fully refuelled at the aerodrome on 10 May 2012 and had likely not flown since that date. There were no reported problems with other aircraft that had used fuel from the same fuel source. Post-impact fuel spillage was evident at the accident site.
Aerodrome weather reports released by the Bureau of Meteorology for Mildura Airport, which was 24 km south-west of Wentworth Aerodrome, showed that between 0900 and 1000 on 28 May 2012, the wind was from the north-east at 4 kts, there was no significant cloud below 5,000 ft and that the visibility was greater than 10 km. This was consistent with a number of witness reports of the weather in the Wentworth area in that period.
The investigation is ongoing and is expected to be completed by May 2013. This will include further examination of the:
- pilot's flying experience, licence and endorsements and aviation medical history
- recovered cockpit instruments
- aircraft's maintenance records
- aircraft's weight, balance and performance.
The information contained in this web update is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and is derived from the initial investigation of the occurrence. Readers are cautioned that new evidence will become available as the investigation progresses that will enhance the ATSB's understanding of the accident as outlined in this web update. As such, no analysis or findings are included in this update.
