16OCT2008 at 0945LT

Arnhem Land Community Airlines

VH-WRT

Buckingham Bay

Elcho Island – Mata Mata – Muthamul – Nyinyikay – Rurruwuy - Elcho Bay

Construction number

005

Year of manufacture

2001

Crew on board

1

Pax on board

0

Crew fatalities

1

Pax fatalities

0

Other fatalities

0

1

While cruising at 4,500 feet over Buckingham Bay, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed. Some debris were found the day after but not the pilot who is believed to die.

Following a review of the available evidence covering:
• witness information,
• the pilot's fatigue and health,
• the airworthiness of the aircraft,
• aircraft fuel,
• the weather affecting the flight, and
• the aircraft’s loading and weight and balance,
the investigation was unable to identify any factors that may have contributed to the accident.
From the evidence available, the following findings are made with respect to the missing aircraft at Buckingham Bay, Northern Territory on 16 October 2008 involving Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 Airvan aircraft, registered VH-WRT. They should not be read as apportioning blame or liability to any organisation or individual.
No contributing safety factors were identified.
Other safety factors:
• The main vertical net and the throwover net were not used to restrain the cargo.
• The full jerry cans were not secured in the aircraft cabin.
• At the time of departure, the aircraft’s centre of gravity (c.g) was probably to the rear of the permitted c.g limit that was published in the Aircraft Flight Manual.
• There was no record that the pilot lodged a flight notification for the flight with Airservices Australia.

VH-WRT