Bulman Christmas Eve light plane crash marks the sixth NT aviation disaster since 2017
Two families are in mourning following a Christmas Eve light plane crash. See the history of fatal aviation crashes in the Territory.
Northern Territory
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Two heartbroken families have been left waiting for answers as crash investigators battle through dense bushland to reach the wreckage of a Christmas Eve light plane crash.
Crash investigators are expected to pick through the wreckage of a Cessna 210N after the light plane went down near Bulman, 240km north east of Katherine.
The plane was declared missing on December 24 after it failed to arrive at Tindal Airport after leaving Nhulunbuy at 8.30am.
It took two days for NT Police to find and reach the isolated wreckage.
The Cessna’s 22-year-old male pilot and his 43-year-old female passenger did not survive the crash.
The NT News has chosen not to name the deceased according to the wishes of the woman’s family.
The latest tragedy follows a dangerous year in Territory skies, with three fatal aviation disasters this year alone.
Eight people have lost their lives across six helicopter and plane crashes in the Northern Territory since 2017, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
The latest crash comes only a month after 47-year-old father Norman Fisher was killed in an East Arnhem Land helicopter crash.
The cattle station owner, remembered by friends as one of the greatest chopper pilots and bull catchers in the Top End, was flying solo in a Robinson R22 when it crashed near Ramingining on November 15.
Outback Wrangler Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson was also killed in a helicopter crash while crocodile egg collecting on the King River, Arnhem Land on February 28.
The 34-year-old father was dangling in a 30m sling when the Robinson R44 went down.
The recent spate of crashes comes after a three years reprieve in aviation disasters in the Territory.
In 2019 a light plane crash claimed the life of 64-year-old pilot John Gotts.
The Top End Flying Club member was the only person in the ICP Savannah XL aircraft, a single engine fixed wing light aircraft, when it crashed in bushland at Weddell near the Emkaytee aerodrome.
In November 2018 a 47-year-old pilot was killed when a Robinson R22 helicopter crashed into a riverbed, near the MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs.
The ATSB found the chopper encountered a strong downdraft, while the helicopter was likely overloaded while the pilot had “an elevated level of alcohol in his system”.
Hewitt Cattle Australia directors Ben and Michael Hewitt were initially charged with multiple breaches of the NT’s workplace health and safety laws, but those charges were dropped in October 2022.
Pilots Daniel Burrill, 33, and 23-year-old Darcy McCarter were killed while transporting a coffin from Darwin to Elcho Island in October 2017.
The ATSB said the Air Frontier Cessna C210L aircraft pilots had no experience flying in the Top End wet season build up, when they encountered a storm.
Half an hour after being approved for a diversion to avoid the weather, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent before it crashed in bushland next to Gunn Point Rd in Howard Springs.
The ATSB said while flying through the build-up storm a combination of airspeed, turbulence and control inputs probably led to excessive loading on the aircraft’s wings, which separated from the plane.
The ATSB investigations into all three 2022 fatal crashes are ongoing.
LIGHT PLANE INCIDENTS IN THE TERRITORY
2022-2017, Provided by Recreational Aviation Australia and ATSB
December 24, 2022: A single engine Cessna 210 aircraft left Gove about 8.30am on Saturday, December 24 but failed to arrive in Katherine. The wreckage was later found about 230km northeast of Katherine, near Bulman. A 22-year-old male pilot and his 43-year-old female passenger did not survive the crash.
July 22, 2022: A Jabiru SP470 left Emkaytee aerodrome with full wing tanks for a non-stop flight to Barkley Station. While in the air the engine started running rough, and pilot declared a MAYDAY and was forced to land in the desert. After waiting more than three hours they were rescued. An inspection found the fuel drain for the header tank had permitted fuel to leak.
September 19, 2021: An ICP Savannah aircraft was making its fourth landing of the day at the Emkaytee Airfield when the nose wheel partially collapsed. The aircraft was inspected and no obvious defects were identified. The pilot considered possible wind shear to be a contributing factor.
December 30, 2020: An Aeroprakt A22 Foxbat was flying when the seam of a fabric join on the top of the starboard wing separated near Emkaytee Airfield.
October 17, 2020: An ICP Savannah aircraft went into a spinning dive after the left wing stalled over Hidden Valley Station while the pilot was inspecting cattle. The pilot struggled to regain control and by time of recovery the aircraft was below tree line with the left wing down. The pilot aimed for gap in trees, however the left wing impacted the ground and tree. The tail section tore off on another tree.
December 3, 2019: A de Havilland Canada Dash 8 left Darwin Airport but as it started to climb the crew heard a loud bang. There were no issues so the flight continued, but later inspections noticed the number 2 blade collar on the right propeller was missing. There was also damage on the number 1 blade and the ice shield on the fuselage. No injuries were recorded.
November 27, 2019: A student was doing their first solo flight without a check flight over Alice Springs Airport when the aircraft ballooned on touch down with a slight indication of a Pilot Induced Oscillation. On returning to the hangar, a distinct “nose down” attitude of the propeller was noticed.
November 25, 2019: A Cessna 210M was on a charter flight with four passengers from Darwin to Tindal when it encountered a large storm cell. About 10 minutes after departure, the aircraft encountered sudden and sustained severe turbulence. Control of the aircraft was lost for over 3 minutes, and three passengers sustained minor injuries.
November 11, 2019: a Bombardier DHC-8-315 aircraft, operated by Surveillance Australia, took off from Darwin Airport with four crew on board. While taking off the crew heard a loud bang. The takeoff was aborted, and air traffic control advised the crew of smoke from the right engine. Metal fragments were spotted on the runway. The power turbine shaft of the aircraft’s right engine fractured due to fatigue cracking. The manufacturer started a review and recommended a safety action plan to address corrosion-related fractures.
October 20, 2019: An ICP Savannah XL aircraft crashed near the Emkaytee aerodrome, killing the 64-year-old pilot, John Gotts. The Top End Flying Club member was the only person in the single engine fixed wing light aircraft crashed in bushland at Weddell. Mr Gotts’s next of kin were at the crash site as police, firefighters and investigators cordoned off the area.
July 21, 2019: A Jabiru J160-D took off from a 700m private airstrip at Lambells’s Lagoon. The pilot believed the aircraft was not responding as usual and elected to remove the power, resulting in the aircraft sinking to the ground, damaging the nose wheel and running off the runway into a ditch. The aircraft flipped upside down and both aboard were able to escape with no injuries.
July 16, 2019: While taking off from a private property at Lambells Lagoon, the pilot experienced the nose drop at a speed when they would normally expect lift. The second pull back on the yoke initiated lift however it was sluggish and felt like they were only a few feet off the ground. The pilot pulled the throttle off and applied the brakes. Trying to maintain a straight course. The aircraft veered slightly left and at the end of the strip nosed into a ditch and embankment before landing on its roof.
May 27, 2019: During a flight over Daly Waters, an ICP Savannah XL experienced engine failure. The pilot made an uneventful emergency landing on a private airstrip. On inspection it was discovered the fuel tanks were all dry with no obvious leaks. There was no smell of leaked fuel. The cause of the leaked fuel was found to be a broken fuel cap vent pipe.
March 11, 2018: A Murphy Aircraft Rebel was flying back to Batchelor from Crab Claw Island when the aircraft engine suddenly seized 2000ft over thickly wooded country. The pilot trimmed for best glide, identified a potential landing site in a clearing a couple of miles to the north. The pilot tried to restart the engine without success. The aircraft touched down in a clear area of tall spear grass, but the underlying surface was waterlogged and boggy. The aircraft flipped forward and came to rest inverted. Pilot and passenger both exited the aircraft uninjured.
November 19, 2017: A preflight check of a Jabiru J230 found nothing unusual, with 48 litres in the fuel tanks. However, after taking off from Emkaytee Airfield, the engine began to miss, run rough and lose power. The pilot immediately lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and reduced throttle to about half. The pilot returned to the airfield. The incident was referred to CASA engineering and airworthiness branch and the manufacturer.
October 23, 2017: A charter flight operated by Air Frontier using a Cessna C210L aircraft was transporting a body in a coffin from Darwin to Elcho Island. After taking off from Darwin, one of the two pilots requested air traffic control for a diversion to avoid adverse weather, which was approved. Half an hour later the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent before it crashed in bushland next to Gunn Point Rd in Howard Springs. Both pilots, Daniel Burrill, 33, and 23-year-old Darcy McCarter were killed. The ATSB found that the pilots had no experience flying in the ‘build-up’ to the wet season in the Darwin area. The ATSB said while flying through a build-up storm, a combination of airspeed, turbulence and control inputs probably led to excessive loading on the aircraft’s wings, which separated from plane.
August 2, 2017: An Arnhem Land Community Airlines charter flight, Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 aircraft, left Milingimbi for Djamardi aeroplane landing area with a pilot and five passengers on board. While landing the pilot detected the increasing descent rate and flared the aircraft, however he was unable to arrest the rate of descent. The aircraft touched down hard causing it to bounce and became airborne. They tried to land again, and bounced, before stabilising and landing on the third attempt. The pilot and passengers were not injured in the incident, the aircraft sustained minor damage.
June 13, 2017: A Jabiru J160 was at ground level at a Dunmarra private airstrip and the wind appeared to coming from the north, as debris was being blown in the same direction and the wind was felt on the aircraft. During takeoff the pilot rotated the aircraft which resulted in the stall warning ‘screaming’. The aircraft failed to climb more than a few feet. On returning to the ground the aircraft came down at an awkward angle with a loss of control resulting in the aircraft ending up on the roof in the bushes.
May 31, 2017: The rear braking caliper and brake pads on port side of a Jabiru J230D separated from attachment point to the wheel strut at Emkaytee Airport. The issue was due to metal fatigue.
May 13, 2017: While taxiing at Sth Goulburn Island, a Jabiru J120C aircraft became unstable. As the pilot was turning to return to the apron the wind gust upset the plane which resulted in a wingtip and propeller touching the surface of the runway.
April 28, 2017: A Cessna 310R was trying to land at Tindal Airport while the bi-directional hookcables, used to stop military jets in an emergency, were left on the runway. The tower controller scanned the control console, noted that both hookcable push-button lights were green. The controller did not realise, due to expectation bias, that the green lights were ‘Up’ indicators. As Cessna was on the final approach the pilot noticed the approach end hookcable was raised. They managed to land without incident.
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