Findings published for plane crash in Sunshine Coast waters

An engine failure led to an emergency call from the plane before it ditched into the ocean.

The Sunshine Coast-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew plucked two men from the ocean this morning after the light plane they were in ditched into the sea off the Sunshine Coast., The aeromedical rescue helicopter was tasked by the Australian Maritine Safety Authority (AMSA) to the crash site.

Damning findings have been published into the “inevitable” crash of a plane into waters off the Sunshine Coast, revealing pilots lacked approvals and the plane had been loaded beyond the weight limit.

The ferry flight left the Sunshine Coast Airport on November 10, 2023, headed for the United States, when the two pilots on board felt the left engine fail.

The pilots of the twin-engine Cessna heard a bang and saw oil streaming from the engine, as they travelled 250km offshore.

According to the findings, published by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the pilots could not maintain altitude nor could they reach the Sunshine Coast to land.

They alerted air traffic control they planned to ditch the plane in the ocean, expertly avoiding a “nose down” touchdown.

The plane “skimmed the crest of a wave” and ditched into the water about 53km off the coast.

The plane had been loaded with additional fuel tanks pushing it over the maximum takeoff weight limit.

Both the pilots survived the crash and were winched to safety by rescue helicopters.

Davies Aviation, which the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s aircraft register listed as the registered operator, is in the Sunshine Coast Airport precinct.

The findings revealed the plane had been given a permit to allow it to carry additional fuel tanks meaning it exceeded the maximum takeoff weight limits.

ATSB transport safety director Dr Stuart Godley said the extra weight meant the crash was “unavoidable”.

“The drag from the propeller combined with the weight of the fuel on-board meant a ditching was unavoidable as the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude on one engine,” Mr Godley said.

The two pilots were rescued from the water after the plane ditched.

 Mr Godley said while the pilots did not have the required license and the plane was not compliant with ferry flight permit conditions, those factors alone did not cause the ditching.

“However, while these factors did remove important safety defences, they did not contribute to the engine failure and the need to conduct the ditching,” Dr Godley noted.

“Nonetheless, operating outside of aviation regulations removes built-in safety defences, increasing the likelihood that undetected problems can emerge.”