Tragic cost of ‘good filming opportunity’ during formation flying practice

A ‘good filming opportunity’ during formation flying appears to have led to a mid-air crash, the ATSB has found | VIDEO

An attempt to film an aerobatic manoeuvre over Port Phillip Bay appears to have led to a mid-air crash between two Marchetti S211 aircraft, claiming the lives of two men.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s preliminary report on the November 19 crash provided a detailed video re-enactment of the events leading up to the collision at Mount Martha.

Departing from Essendon Airport, Viper 1 was the lead aircraft carrying a pilot and safety pilot, while Viper 2 had pilot Stephen Gale and cameraman James Rose on board.

The report said a manoeuvre in which Viper 1 rolled inverted as Viper 2 passed below, was considered a “good filming opportunity” and the pilots decided to repeat it.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said on the next attempt, the right wings of each aircraft collided as Viper 2 passed beneath the inverted Viper 1 and began to pitch up and bank away.

Video footage taken from fixed cameras on board Viper 1 showed that as the aircraft made contact, the outer right wing of Viper 2 immediately failed resulting in a near-vertical plunge into Port Phillip Bay at high speed.

“The aircraft was extensively damaged and came to rest on the floor of Port Phillip Bay at a depth of 24m,” said the report.

Both men on board were killed.

The damaged Marchetti S211 following a mid-air collision over Port Phillip Bay at Mount Martha on November 19, 2023. Picture: ATSB.

It’s understood Mr Rose, 30, and 56-year-old Mr Gale were working on a new show titled “Any Fool Can Fly” when the crash occurred.

The owner of Jetworks Aviation and a seasoned pilot, Mr Gale had come up with the concept for the series, in which celebrities were taught to fly planes.

Mr Rose’s family expressed their devastation at the loss of their son and brother, describing him as a “wonderful young man”.

Pictures from the ATSB’s preliminary report showing damage to the wing of the aircraft that safely returned to Essendon Airport following a mid-air collision over Port Phillip Bay at Mount Martha on November 19, 2023. Picture: ATSB.

The pilots on Viper 1 were unhurt, after returning safely to Essendon following the collision.

Mr Mitchell said “several impact marks and paint transfers from Viper 2 were present on the upper surface of Viper 1’s right wing, and its landing light cover was shattered”.

Formation flying procedures would be examined as part of the ATSB’s investigation, along with further analysis of recorded video and audio.

“A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation, but if we identify a critical safety issue during the course of the investigation, we will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” said Mr Mitchell.

The mid-air crash was the fourth in just over a year in Australia, accounting for a total of ten lives lost.

Husband and wife David and Jan Maddern were killed in a mid-air crash at Caboolture Airport in July; four people died when two helicopters collided at Sea World in January, and two pilots died in another mid-air crash at Kybong last November.