ATSB report reveals photo taken moments before before Seaplane crash

Photographs retrieved from a passenger’s camera reveal the dramatic moments the pilot of a seaplane veered 1km off course before it nosedived into the Hawkesbury River killing all six people on board. READ THE FULL REPORT.

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Photographs retrieved from a passenger’s Canon EOS 40D digital camera reveal the dramatic moments the pilot of a seaplane veered 1km off course before it nosedived into the Hawkesbury River killing all six people on board.

The images taken by William Cousins suggest pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, may have become disorientated, distracted or incapacitated at the helm of the de Havilland Beaver — taking a right hand turn off the standard flight path at Little Shark Rock Point and looping around into Jerusalem Bay where it nosedived into the Hawkesbury River on New Year’s Eve last year.

A 28-page factual report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released today charts the VH-NOO’s exact flight path thanks to a memory card retrieved from a wrecked camera belonging to the British multi-­millionaire Richard Cousins’ son in cockpit and images from a witness’s iPhone.

Richard Cousins.

Richard’s fiancee Emma Bowden.

Edward Cousins, son of Richard.

William, Richard’s son. Source: Twitter

Emma Bowden's daughter Heather.

Pilot Morgan had flown the course more than 500 times before with Sydney Seaplanes, for whom he had worked for four years — including three times on the day of the accident.

It is not yet known what caused the experienced pilot to veer off course at low altitude and turn right into Jerusalem Bay.

His health and medical history are still being investigated.

The Seaplane looped right at Little Shark Rock Point before veering off course into Jerusalam Bay where it nosedived.

The last picture taken as the seaplane continued its right hand turn at Cowan Bay and entered Jerusalem Bay where it nose dived.

ATSB Executive Director, Transport Safety, Mr Nat Nagy said: “It is important to note that the ATSB’s investigation into this tragic accident is ongoing, so we are constrained on the information we can release publicly at this time.

“However, the interim report, which we released today, does provide a factual update on the investigation so far.

The report does not include any findings or recommendations — these will be provided in a final report, which we anticipate to be released in the first half of next year.”

The pilot of the Sydney Seaplanes’ aircraft was 44-year-old Gareth Morgan.

The report states after taking-off from Cottage Point, the aircraft climbed and turned right into Cowan Creek heading towards the main Hawkesbury River into the prevailing wind on a standard departure path.

However, at Little Shark Rock Point, it made a right looping turn, the report states.

The aircraft levelled out before flying on a straight path directly towards Jerusalem Bay with a tailwind.

One of the passengers caught the final moments on camera.

The camera discovered revealed the final moments of the flight.

A picture detailing the damage from the crash.

Shortly after, it entered Jerusalem Bay at an altitude below the surrounding terrain height. As the aircraft approached Pinta Bay eye witnesses say the 1963 model made a steep right turn.

Mid turn, it nosedived into the water.

With no time for the pilot to radio for help, all six passengers died — British catering tycoon Richard Cousins, his fiancee Emma Bowden, her daughter Heather, 11, and Mr Cousins’ sons William, 25, and Edward, 23.

“With no on board data available from the aircraft itself, transport safety investigators have been able to use witness statements and images retrieved from one of the passenger’s cameras, to determine what happened in the lead up to this accident,” Mr Nagy said.

“The ATSB’s investigation is continuing and will now look at a number of factors surrounding the pilot’s health and medical history.”

Wreckage of a Sydney Seaplane that crash into the water on New Year’s Eve. Picture: Richard Dobson.

It is not yet known what caused the experienced pilot to veer off course. Picture: Richard Dobson.

Aaron Shaw, CEO of Sydney Seaplanes said he was relieved the company was found not to be at fault.

“We are pleased that the ATSB has ruled that the aircraft was in excellent airworthy condition, that our pilot, Gareth, was experienced, highly qualified and highly trained and passed fit and healthy to fly, and that all maintenance and safety procedures were followed,” he said.

“We continue to offer our support to the ATSB and NSW Police as they determine what would appear to have caused Gareth to become incapacitated.”

THE ATSB has engaged an aviation medical specialist to help review the pilot’s medical records

“We have engaged an aviation medical specialist to assist with reviewing the pilot’s medical records as well as the autopsy results, which the ATSB has recently received over the past month,” a statement from the ATSB read.