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Rossair fatal Conquest accident Renmark - RIP

Via ABC online:

Rossair grounds all flights, confirms chief pilot among three dead in Riverland crash

Updated 54 minutes ago
Wed 31 May 2017, 11:29am
Photo: Martin Scott (left) was an experience pilot and Paul Daw was retraining at the time they both died in the plane crash. (LinkedIn/Facebook)

Map: Renmark 5341

Rossair has grounded its fleet of aircraft as a precaution in response to a plane crash that killed three people in South Australia's Riverland yesterday afternoon.

Rossair chief pilot Martin Scott, 48, and two passengers — Paul Daw, 65, who was taking an induction test, and Civil Aviation Safety Authority representative Stephen Guerin, 56, — were on board the nine-seater Cessna Conquest.

The plane was travelling between Adelaide and the Riverland.

CASA said Mr Guerin was observing a check flight conducted by Rossair as part of routine safety work.

In a statement CASA said Mr Guerin had worked with the authority since 2008 as a flying operations inspector, and at times acted as a team leader — prior to that he was a pilot for a number of aviation operators.

"Mr Guerin is remembered by CASA colleagues as passionate about aviation, meticulous about safety and widely respected," the statement said.

"He was active in community service and known as a true gentleman."

Rossair staff 'in shock'

In a statement Rossair said the crash had been a devastating blow for the families involved, the company and the group's 30 employees.

"Our staff are in deep shock at our loss and our deepest sympathies are with the family members concerned," the statement said.

"This is an extremely sad event. Rossair will work with aviation authorities to determine the cause of the crash."

Photo: All Rossair flights have been grounded since the plane crash. (ABC News: Nathan Stitt)

Charter flight service Hartwig Air's manager David Blake said Mr Daw had worked as the organisation's chief pilot and was a "larger than life" character who "lived and breathed" aviation.

"Paul exuded aviation - he was a complete enthusiast," Mr Blake said.

"Paul was a very big family man and family was very important in his life.

"He never let anybody down, he was always there for people and that is I think one of the biggest epitaphs I can offer."

Mr Blake said Mr Daw was due to retire from the organisation on Friday, but had already started making other plans to continue flying with Rossair.

Mr Blake also paid tribute to Mr Guerin saying he would be dearly missed by staff at both Bruce Hartwig Flying School and Hartwig Air.

"He was our school's and our charter division's CASA representative and well known to people here, so the loss is pretty extensive," he said.



Photo: Rossair charters flights primarily in South Australia. (ABC Radio Adelaide: Spence Denny)

The wreckage was found in scrubland about four kilometres west of Renmark Airport just after nightfall.

Major Crash investigators from Adelaide arrived at the scene last night, and an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) team will arrive there this morning.

Australian Transport and Safety Bureau's Neville Blythe said early information suggested the plane did not explode on impact, and that was expected to be a big help for investigators.

"We do understand there hasn't been a post impact fire, which is very good from an investigation point of view," he said.

"It doesn't destroy evidence and that type of thing so we will be again taking our time to forensically go through everything in relation to the aircraft."

Investigators calling for crash witnesses

Mr Blythe said investigators from Adelaide and Canberra would arrive at the site late this morning or early afternoon.

The ATSB is also calling for any witnesses who were in the area about 4:00pm yesterday.
A local Anglican priest at Renmark, Paul Devenport, said he saw the plane flying over the east of Renmark moments before the crash.

"I couldn't see it totally but I could see it behind the trees, it was going quite low," he said.

"It was flying quite low and it had it's lights on."

Rossair primarily flies in South Australia and runs charter flights including for tourism ventures and mining companies.

The company has been running for 50 years and this is the first fatality it has ever had.

Photo: South Australian police block off a dirt road leading to the wreckage of the plane in the Riverland. (ABC News: Tom Fedorowytsch)

&.. via the ATSB investigation webpage:

Collision with terrain involving Cessna 441, VH-XMJ near Renmark Airport, South Australia on 30 May 2017
 
Investigation number: AO-2017-057

Investigation status: Active
 

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Summary

The ATSB is investigating a fatal aircraft accident involving a Cessna Conquest 441 aircraft, registered VH-XMJ, that occurred near Renmark Airport, South Australia on 30 May 2017.

The aircraft was reportedly conducting a training flight and collided with terrain shortly after departure from runway 25. All three occupants on board were fatally injured.

The ATSB has deployed a team of five investigators to the accident site with expertise that includes aircraft operation and maintenance.

While on site the team will be examining the site and wreckage, gathering recorded data including radio and radar, and interviewing witnesses.

The ATSB will issue a preliminary report outlining the facts of the accident within 30 days and present the findings of its investigation in the final report, due out within 12 months.
 
General details

Date: 31 May 2017
 
Investigation status: Active
 
Time: 16:17 CST
 
Investigation type: Occurrence Investigation
 
Location   (show map): Renmark Airport
 
Occurrence type: Collision with terrain
 
State: South Australia
 
Occurrence category: Accident
 
Report status: Pending
 
Highest injury level: Fatal
 
Expected completion: May 2018 
 
Aircraft details

Aircraft manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft Company
 
Aircraft model: 441
 
Aircraft registration: VH-XMJ
 
Serial number: 4410113
 
Type of operation: Flying Training
 
Damage to aircraft: Substantial
  
 


Last update 31 May 2017

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