[Peetwo]

Popinjay to the rescue?? - Gundaroo Cirrus Fatal to be investigated - 

Via PJ HQ:

Gundaroo aircraft accident

The ATSB has launched a transport safety investigation into a fatal accident involving a Cirrus light aircraft at Gundaroo, north of Canberra, on Friday afternoon.

Transport safety investigators from the ATSB’s Canberra office were expected to arrive at the scene on Friday evening to conduct an initial assessment of the accident site.

Over coming days, investigators with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities on site including site mapping, wreckage examination, and recovery of aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.

Investigators will also seek to interview any witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.

The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or may have video footage of the aircraft in any phase of its flight, to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity.

The ATSB anticipates publishing a preliminary report, which will detail factual information established during the investigation’s initial evidence collection phase, in approximately 6-8 weeks.

The ATSB will publish a final report, detailing contributing factors and any identified safety issues, at the conclusion of the investigation.

However, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken.

Date 06/10/2023

Plus from MSM:

Investigation commences after fatal light aircraft crash outside Gundaroo, north of Canberra

Key points:

• NSW Police say they are still confirming how many people were on board the plane when it crashed just before 3:00pm
  
• Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators will arrive at the scene on Friday evening and will prepare a report
  
• It appears the Cirrus light aircraft took off from Canberra Airport about 2:30pm on Friday
  

Emergency services are at the scene of a fatal light aircraft crash at Gundaroo, a small town north of Canberra.

NSW Police said they received a report that a plane had crashed and caught alight just before 3:00pm today.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has extinguished the fire and a crime scene has been established.

Police said they were still conducting inquiries and confirming how many people were on board at the time.

It appears the plane took off from Canberra Airport about 2:30pm.

NSW Police superintendent Cath Bradbury said she believed a local resident had called emergency services after seeing flames in the vicinity of the crash.

"When police arrived with RFS services there was a small grass fire and obviously a catastrophic crash of a small light aircraft," she said.

"The RFS extinguished the plane — unfortunately there are no survivors.

"Police will be working here through the night."

Superintendent Bradbury said there were "minimal witnesses" to the crash.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said investigators were expected to arrive at the scene of the Cirrus light aircraft crash on Friday evening.



"Over coming days, investigators with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities on site including site mapping, wreckage examination, and recovery of aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra," he said.

"Investigators will also seek to interview any witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information."

The ATSB is calling on anyone who may have witnessed the accident or who has footage to contact the bureau via its website.

The ATSB said it would publish a report on the crash within six to eight weeks.

In a statement, Air Services Australia said its Joint Rescue Coordination Centre was "aware of the incident".

Hmm...PJ didn't take long to decide to investigate this one?? Nine thousand feet to crash in sixty seconds suggests a catastrophic failure? Pardon my ignorance, I'm not sure if it is possible but I wonder if the parachute was inadvertently deployed??

'K' (add-in) The radio silence is noteworthy.  

MTF...P2