Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV – VH-SWP

Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 9 March 1994

Aircraft Type: Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV

Owner/operator: Jetcraft

Registration Number: VH-SWP

Location: 15 km NE of Tamworth Airport, NSW (TMW) – ÿ Australia

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1

Component Affected: Aircraft Systems (specifically, the control surfaces and flight path management systems) and Navigation Systems.Aircraft Systems (specifically, the control surfaces and flight path management systems) and Navigation Systems.

Investigating Agency: BASIBASI

Category: Accident

An aircraft incident occurred involving a flight from Bankstown Airport, NSW, to Inverell Airport, NSW, on 17 February 2024. The pilot initiated a flight plan for a 17-minute flight, but encountered conflicting traffic and initiated a descent to 4,500 feet. Due to poor visibility and a visual approach in unsuitable weather, the pilot elected to remain at 4,500 feet. At 17:32, the pilot requested a descent clearance, which was granted, and then requested to report at 8 DME from Tamworth. The aircraft impacted trees approximately 8.2 NM from Tamworth, resulting in significant damage and fire. The aircraft was descending at an angle of approximately 3.5 degrees, and was banked about 17.5 degrees to the left. The aircraft’s descent was terminated by impact with a second tree 35 meters further on, followed by a roll, resulting in a loss of control and impact with a rock face. The primary cause of the incident appears to be the pilot’s decision to initiate a visual approach in adverse weather conditions, coupled with inadequate flight planning and a lack of experience with the route.An aircraft incident occurred involving a flight from Bankstown Airport, NSW, to Inverell Airport, NSW, on 17 February 2024. The pilot initiated a flight plan for a 17-minute flight, but encountered conflicting traffic and initiated a descent to 4,500 feet. Due to poor visibility and a visual approach in unsuitable weather, the pilot elected to remain at 4,500 feet. At 17:32, the pilot requested a descent clearance, which was granted, and then requested to report at 8 DME from Tamworth. The aircraft impacted trees approximately 8.2 NM from Tamworth, resulting in significant damage and fire. The aircraft was descending at an angle of approximately 3.5 degrees, and was banked about 17.5 degrees to the left. The aircraft’s descent was terminated by impact with a second tree 35 meters further on, followed by a roll, resulting in a loss of control and impact with a rock face. The primary cause of the incident appears to be the pilot’s decision to initiate a visual approach in adverse weather conditions, coupled with inadequate flight planning and a lack of experience with the route.

Description

The aircraft departed Bankstown Airport, NSW (BWU) at about 06:40 and proceeded as planned to Inverell Airport, NSW (IVR) with several en route stops. At Inverell the pilot rested until his departure that afternoon for the return journey. At 17:23 the pilot departed Armidale (ARM) for Tamworth (TMW). The planned time for the flight was 17 minutes. The flight plan indicated the flight would be conducted in accordance with IFR procedures. The pilot elected to remain at 4,500 ft in visual meteorological conditions because of conflicting traffic at higher altitudes. The published IFR lowest safe altitude for the route was 5,400 ft. At about 17:32 the pilot requested a descent clearance. He was cleared to make a visual approach with a clearance limit of 5 NM DME from Tamworth, and was requested to report at 8 DME from Tamworth. The pilot acknowledged the instructions and reported leaving 4,500 ft on descent. The aircraft was 8.2 NM from Tamworth when it impacted trees at approximately 2,685 ft AMSL. It was descending at an angle of approximately 3.5 degrees, and was banked about 17.5 degrees to the left at impact. The aircraft maintained a straight path after initial impact but had rolled to a bank angle of 25 degrees left by the time the left wing struck a second tree 35 m further on. It then impacted the ground left wing low and inverted, before bouncing into a rock face 200 m from initial impact. The main fuselage wreckage caught fire and the cabin area was destroyed. There was low cloud and rain in the area at the time of the accident. SIGNIFICANT FACTORS 1. The pilot was making a visual approach in weather conditions unsuitable for such an approach. 2. The pilot had not flown this route before. 3. The aircraft was flown below the lowest safe altitude in conditions of poor visibility.

Primary Cause

Pilot’s decision to initiate a visual approach in unsuitable weather conditions, combined with inadequate flight planning and lack of experience with the route.Pilot’s decision to initiate a visual approach in unsuitable weather conditions, combined with inadequate flight planning and lack of experience with the route.

Share on: