The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced a transport safety investigation into a collision with water accident involving a Cessna 208 floatplane during take-off near Rottnest Island, off Perth, on Tuesday afternoon.
As reported to the ATSB, during take-off the floatplane collided with the water, before coming to rest partially submerged.
The ATSB will deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its Perth, Brisbane and Canberra offices, specialising in human performance, and aircraft operations and maintenance.
Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
Investigators will also seek to interview those on board, and any other witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including available flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed or has photos or video footage of the aircraft at any phase of the flight, or in the immediate aftermath of the accident, to make contact via the witness form on our website at their earliest opportunity.