Why this seaplane crashed with 11 people on-board

The plane crashed into trees on an island in the Whitsundays.

A seaplane crashed into trees at off Chance Bay in the Whitsundays in January 2016.

AN INVESTIGATION into a plane crash in the Whitsundays found the pilot's delayed decision led to the aircraft crashing - with 10 tourists on-board - into trees during a baulked landing a Chance Bay.

The seven women and four men had enjoyed a joy flight over the Great Barrier Reef, departing from Hamilton Island, when it crashed onto Whitsunday Island in the afternoon of January 28, 2016.

A Whitsunday Air Services aircraft that crash landed in the trees on Whitsunday Island near Chance Bay on January 28, 2016.

More than four years later and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released its final report into the non-fatal incident.

On the day the Whitsunday Air Services pilot had been conducting a routine landing at Chance Bay when the seaplane bounced on the water three times before crashing into the trees, part way up a ridge about 150 metres from the main beach.

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An ATSB investigation found the pilot had initially delayed touching down on the water to avoid a wind gust.

The report said while a desire to avert unsuitable landing conditions motivated this decision, it resulted in the aircraft first touching down outside the recommended landing area at Chance Bay and much closer to the nearby terrain.

 

The VH-WTY seaplane at Chance Bay earlier in the day on January 28, 2016.

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This was followed by two further bounces on the water and closer to the beach before the pilot attempted a baulked landing in the Cessna Aircraft Company C208 Caravan seaplane.

The report found rather taking the usual go-around route over the water, he flew straight ahead towards the terrain in his attempt to land the plane, which is "within the documented performance capabilities of the Caravan".

Whitsunday Air Services aircraft, carrying 11 people (one pilot and 10 passengers), crash landed in the trees on Whitsunday Island near Chance Bay on January 28, 2016.

However, he had not used all available power and optimal speed.

The pilot realised the plane "was not climbing as expected and would not clear the terrain", so he turned away from the saddle towards higher terrain "and placed the aircraft in a downwind situation".

No one was seriously injured when Whitsunday Air Services aircraft crash landed in the trees on Whitsunday Island near Chance Bay on January 28, 2016.

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Investigators found although the pilot was familiar with the area, having flown there 11 times in the previous 90 days including earlier that day in the seaplane, he "had not conducted a go-around in any aircraft at Chance Bay during line operations, nor conducted a go-around in the Caravan with a loaded aircraft weight".

 

Chance Bay

 

 

"This may have influenced his knowledge and judgment around the expected performance of the aircraft, including not using the available transient power or the correct-go-around airspeed, and the distance required to safely conduct a go-around," the report said.

"Despite this, flying well beyond the decision point and persisting with conditions that were not conducive for a safe landing meant the decision to conduct a go around was made late in the approach.

Whitsunday Air Services aircraft that crash landed in the trees on Whitsunday Island near Chance Bay on January 28, 2016.

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"The late decision reduced the options and margins available for a safe outcome and ultimately led to the ground collision."

The aircraft was fitted with lap-sash seatbelts in the passenger seats and five-point harnesses in the pilot and co-pilot seats.

The report also found pilot and passenger survivability on the plane was likely enhanced by the correct use of the available seat belts.