Investigation number
198001471
Occurrence date
Location
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
Fatal

At 1909:22 hours on 21 February 1980, Beech 200 aircraft, registered VH-AA V, collided with the western sea wall enclosing the extension of Runway 16/34, abeam the Runway 34 threshold, at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, New South Wales. The aircraft broke apart on impact and there was an explosive fire. The pilot and all twelve passengers were killed.

The accident occurred approximately 106 seconds after the aircraft had commenced take-off from Runway 25, on a scheduled flight to Temora, New South Wales.

The cause of the accident has not been determined, but the most likely explanation is that the aircraft was operated in a reduced power configuration which, under the prevailing conditions, rendered its single-engine performance critical in respect to aircraft handling.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Beech Aircraft Corp
Model
Beech Super King Air 200
Registration
VH-AAV
Serial number
BB-245
Operation type
Air Transport Low Capacity
Departure point
Kingsford Smith Airport, NSW
Destination
Temora, NSW
Damage
Destroyed