THE Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched a formal investigation into the charter aircraft incident that unfolded at Mount Gambier Airport on Saturday.
New details have emerged the pilot of a charter aircraft – carrying five volunteer firefighters, a paramedic and two crew members – was unable to “safely” stop the aircraft on the runway after the plane struck the ground.
The aircraft’s propellers struck the runway during the “hard landing”, causing “substantial damage” to the plane.
It is the second formal probe by national transport safety investigators at Mount Gambier Airport in less than two years.
This follows the Angel Flight tragedy in June 2017 that sadly claimed the lives of three people.
Country Fire Service volunteers and a paramedic were on-board the chartered flight that was en route from Adelaide.
While shaken by the dramatic incident, the passengers walked away unscathed from the damaged aircraft.
The firefighting strike team of members of the Kingsley CFS Group was returning home after being deployed to the Queensland’s fire emergency.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesperson said yesterday the safety regulator was investigating the hard landing and ground strike of a Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft at Mount Gambier.
“The pilot reported experiencing difficulties landing at Mount Gambier,” the spokesperson said.
“After a heavy landing, the pilot was unable to safely stop the aircraft on the runway and decided to conduct a go-around. “The pilot then conducted another approach and landed.”
The spokesperson said the post-flight inspection of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to both propellers.
“No one was injured as a result of this occurrence,” the safety bureau said.
“As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview relevant persons, including the pilot, obtain engineering reports and other additional information.
“A report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation, which is anticipated to be released in the first quarter of 2019.”
While CFS management declined to comment on the incident, Kingsley CFS Group officer Grant Fensom told The Border Watch earlier this week he was pleased his volunteers walked away safely from the accident.
The strike team members were deployed to Queensland to battle the fires burning on Stradbroke Island.
The full report into the Angel Flight tragedy is expected to be released in the first half of next year.
