The crash of a Cessna 150 due to a stall is a reminder that pilots should take every opportunity to refresh their knowledge and skills.
On the morning of 29 April 2012, the owner-pilot of a Cessna 150 was aerial stock mustering on a cattle station near Bourke, New South Wales. Some patches of fog had cleared, and the weather was fine and calm.
After about 1.5 hours in the air, the pilot radioed stockmen on the ground to direct them to an area where cattle were not moving. The aircraft was seen circling over the area at about 100 ft and a short time later, in a steep descent towards the ground. The pilot died in the accident.
The ATSB found that while manoeuvring at low level the pilot had inadvertently allowed the aircraft to aerodynamically stall, resulting in a high rate of descent and collision with the ground.
The pilot did not hold a valid medical certificate and had not completed a flight review for a number of years. These both increased the risk of operating an aircraft, especially during aerial mustering operations.
The accident highlights the importance of pilots undergoing a flight review at least every 2 years and practicing routine procedures under the supervision of instructors or approved training/check pilots.
Read the report: Collision with terrain involving Cessna 150, VH-UWR, 55 km north-east of Bourke, New South Wales, on 29 April 2012