The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced a transport safety investigation into an accident involving a SOCATA TB20 Trinidad single-engine light aircraft in the Eungella National Park, west of Mackay.
The aircraft collided with steep, mountainous terrain near Finch Hatton, on Saturday morning.
Transport safety investigators from the ATSB’s Brisbane office with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance are travelling to the area on Sunday as part of the evidence collection phase of the investigation.
They will collect and examine relevant evidence including analysing imagery from the accident site, interviewing involved parties, reviewing relevant weather data, obtaining pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and downloading any flight tracking data.
The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed or heard the aircraft in any phase of its flight to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity.
The ATSB currently anticipates publishing a preliminary report, which will detail factual information established during the investigation’s initial evidence collection phase, in approximately 6-8 weeks.
The ATSB will then publish a final report, detailing contributing factors and any identified safety issues, at the conclusion of the investigation.
However, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken.