Horror Caboolture double fatal plane crash sparks safety crackdown

Strict new rules have been enforced at the Caboolture airfield in the wake of an horrific mid-air collision between two planes which left a couple dead.

Strict new rules have been enforced at a Caboolture airfield in the wake of an horrific collision between two light aircraft, two years ago next month, which left a couple dead and another pilot traumatised.

A scathing Australian Transport Safety Bureau final report, released on June 5, found the accident had eerie similarities to the Sea World Helicopters crash which killed four people in 2023.

The ATSB found that the Caboolture aerodrome operator did not effectively manage the risk from trees and buildings blocking views, or inform pilots of the risk.

Takeoff radio calls also were not mandatory and planes were allowed to operate at the same time on intersecting runways.

Pilots instead relied on the “see and avoid’’ principle to avoid other aircraft — looking and making radio calls.

David Maddern and his wife Jan were killed in the crash.

Retired commercial pilot David Maddern, who had more than 25 years’ experience, and his wife Jan, were killed in the July 28 crash when their Jabiru hit a Piper Pawnee as it was coming in to land.

The Maddern’s plane plummeted 40m to the ground, but miraculously the Piper’s pilot managed to land uninjured despite damage to the left wing of his aircraft.

The report said that moments before the crash the Piper performed a “go around’’ when its pilot saw a Cessna, taxied by a solo student pilot, on runway 6 where he was trying to land.

“The Pawnee pilot applied power and initiated a climb, maintaining the runway heading as they made a go-around radio call,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

“At the same time, the Jabiru (piloted by Mr Maddern) lifted off from runway 11.”

The plane crash site at Caboolture. Picture: Supplied

He said that just before impact the Jabiru turned, likely in an attempt to avoid the Pawnee, but the aircraft collided and a wing on the Maddern’s plane was badly damaged.

That caused it to pitch forward and roll to the right before it slammed into the ground.

“While in the circuit, the Pawnee pilot had made positional radio calls and a call stating their intention to land and hold short of the runway intersection, but did not hear an entering runway or rolling call from the Jabiru,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Based on the Jabiru pilot’s apparent unawareness of the Pawnee until just before the collision, and most witnesses not recalling hearing any calls from the Jabiru throughout the event, it is likely that the Jabiru pilot could not transmit or hear radio calls.

“Because of this, and a stand of trees between the intersecting runways that blocked visibility between them, neither pilot was aware of the other aircraft.”

The ATSB said both Mr Maddern and the Piper pilot were familiar with the aerodrome and its difficult sightlines.

The plane crash at Caboolture. Picture: Supplied

Since the fatality, the aerodrome had banned planes using runways at the same time and had mandated takeoff calls.

The ATSB had also stopped using the term “active runway’’ to avoid confusing pilots.

“This tragic accident highlights that relying on alerted see-and-avoid principles for separation at non-controlled aerodromes is not infallible,” Mr Mitchell said.

There have been multiple serious and lesser incidents at or near Caboolture aerodrome over the past two decades.

In October, 2022 an ultralight rolled on landing, injuring the two men on board.

In 2014, two Logan parents, a pilot and two tandem skydiving instructors were killed when their skydiving plane crashed shortly after take off.

And in December, 2005 an ultralight pilot died after crashing just northwest of the Caboolture tip after earlier taking off from the aerodrome.

Originally published as Horror Caboolture double fatal plane crash sparks safety crackdown