ATSB report releases findings into Wave Air scenic plane crash in Whitsundays

An aviation safety report has ruled what caused an undertrained pilot to crash a Qld tourist plane carrying seven passengers.

A GA8 Airvan, operated by Wave Air, was returning from a scenic flight in the Whitsundays when the pilot overshot the runway and crashed into a ditch with seven passengers on board on 2 November 2024. Image: ATSB

A crash involving a Whitsunday tourist plane carrying seven passengers occurred because the pilot had been undertrained and had misjudged the speed needed for landing, an aviation safety authority report found.

On November 2, 2024 a GA8 Airvan on a scenic flight overshot the runway after the pilot did not “initiate a go-around” when the aircraft came in for landing too high and fast.

As a result the plane, operated by Wave Air and carrying the pilot and seven passengers, travelled over some grass coming to stop in a ditch.

No one was injured but the aircraft was significantly damaged.

An Australian Transport and Safety Bureau investigation found the pilot had initiated “the flare” – the part of the landing where the nose is lifted – 300m too late while travelling at about 90 knots, roughly 166km/h.

As a result the plane floated down the runway “for about 640m before touching down at a groundspeed of 65kt [120km/h] with 370m of runway remaining”.

As a result the plane floated down the runway “for about 640m before touching down at a groundspeed of 65kt with 370m of runway remaining”. Image: ATSB

“The aircraft’s approach was above profile with a high airspeed,” Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod said.

“Subsequently, the landing was beyond the planned touchdown point.

“While landing beyond the planned touchdown point, there was adequate landing distance remaining, however the pilot did not apply sufficient braking to stop the aircraft departing the runway.”

The ATSB investigation found “the pilot had an incorrect understanding of the required approach speed”.

It also found that the pilot’s initial training was not fully completed, and that Wave Air’s training, supervision and checking flights did not identify the pilot’s approach speed was routinely excessive.

“For pilots, this accident should demonstrate the importance of accurate knowledge of your aircraft’s reference speeds, and always being prepared to promptly execute a go‑around if an approach for landing does not proceed as expected,” Mr Macleod said.

“In addition, routinely practising go‑arounds will ensure the manoeuvre can be performed safely when needed.”

None of the passengers of the pilot were injured but the plane was substantially damaged. Image: ATSB

The pilot reported having limited sleep in the 24 and 48 hours before to the accident, however the ATSB, after examining possible effect of fatigue, determined the pilot was “not experiencing a level of fatigue known to affect performance”.

The investigation also found Wave Air’s weight and balance system used an incorrect figure to calculate the aircraft’s centre of gravity, and passengers were not weighed in accordance with the operator’s procedures – however this not linked as a direct contributor to the accident.

Since the incident Wave Air has taken several safety actions including updating its training and checking manual, appointing a new head of training and checking, updating pilot training, reviewing procedures and errors in the weight and balance system, and revising its stabilised approach criteria, the investigation found.

Originally published as ATSB report releases findings into Wave Air scenic plane crash in Whitsundays