Selected Australian accidents and incidents 6 July to 21 September 2023

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Two jet blast incidents took place at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Image: ATSB

6 July

  • Aircraft: Saab 340B+
  • Location: Shellharbour Airport, NSW
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Scheduled flight was backtracking on runway after landing when crew noticed Piper PA-28 taking off towards them. Crew took avoiding action resulting in lateral runway excursion.

7 July

  • Aircraft: Quickie Q200
  • Location: Tyabb Airport, Vic
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Home-built aircraft was substantially damaged in runway excursion.

14 July

  • Aircraft: DAMODA Newton 2.2 drone swarm
  • Location: Docklands, Melbourne, Vic
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: During a drone light show, many aircraft within
    the swarm experienced uncommanded movement, resulting in fail-safe mode activations, collisions with water and each other, and one aircraft escaping the geo-fence. The incident destroyed 440 drones.

21 July

  • Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350
  • Location: Essendon Airport, Vic
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Aircraft struck 4 runway edge lights on take-off, which was abandoned.

28 July

  • Aircraft: Jabiru J430/Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee
  • Location: Caboolture Aerodrome, Qld
  • Fatalities: 2
  • Description: Pawnee making landing and Jabiru on take-off collided over runway, killing occupants of the Jabiru.

30 July

  • Aircraft: Jabiru SP 2200
  • Location: Brentwood, SA
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Aircraft collided with horse on take-off. Aircraft flipped inverted. Pilot injured, passenger uninjured, horse
    later died.

6 August

  • Aircraft: Robinson R22
  • Location: Near Gascoyne Junction, WA
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Helicopter made hard landing and was damaged.

7 August

  • Aircraft: Robinson R44 Astro
  • Location: Limmen National Park, NT
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Pilot lost control of helicopter on take-off and it crashed. Minor injuries, substantial damage.

12 August

  • Aircraft: Gyroplane
  • Location: Allworth, NSW
  • Fatalities: 1
  • Description: Aircraft struck tree killing one of 2 people onboard and injuring the other.

23 August

  • Aircraft: The Airplane Factory Sling
  • Location: Heck Field, Qld
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Aircraft struck hedge on landing approach and came to rest inverted.

5 September

  • Aircraft: Robinson R22
  • Location: Near Halls Creek, WA
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Helicopter struck tree during mustering and crashed. Pilot seriously injured, aircraft destroyed by
    post-crash fire.

6 September

  • Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
  • Location: Over northern NSW
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Brisbane-Melbourne scheduled flight had almost reached cruise altitude when the aircraft’s rudder trim was inadvertently activated, causing a yaw and roll to the left. Pilot flying attempted to correct the roll through autopilot heading inputs. Shortly after, the autopilot was disconnected and the aircraft returned to normal flight. BANK ANGLE alert sounded during incident.

7 September

  • Aircraft: Airbus A330
  • Location: Tullamarine Airport, Vic
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: During night take-off from runway 34, which was temporarily shortened for works, the aircraft reportedly rotated past the temporary displaced threshold, resulting in jet blast affecting people and objects in the work area. No injuries.

12 September

  • Aircraft: DJI drone
  • Location: Albany, WA
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Survey drone lost power, crashed and was substantially damaged.

18 September

  • Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
  • Location: Tullamarine Airport, Vic
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: As in the 7 September incident, runway 34 was temporarily shortened for works. During night take-off, the aircraft reportedly rotated past the temporary displaced threshold, resulting in jet blast affecting people and objects in the work area. No injuries reported.

20 September

  • Aircraft: Bell 204B
  • Location: Near Aratula, Qld
  • Fatalities: 0
  • Description: Helicopter descended into dam while firefighting. Pilot escaped from cockpit before aircraft sank.

21 September

    • Aircraft: Guimbal Cabri G2
    • Location: Bankstown Airport, NSW
    • Fatalities: 0
    • Description: Helicopter had mechanical failure on training flight and crashed. No injuries, substantial damage.

Sources:: ATSB, RA-Aus, Flight Safety Foundation

This is a list of civil aviation accidents/incidents. However, Flight Safety Australia pays tribute to the 4 Australian military personnel killed in the crash of an Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter on 28 July and the 3 United States military personnel killed in the crash of a US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey on 27 August.

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