Warbirds

Tragic Grumman Mallard Accident

The annual Perth Australia Day fireworks display was cancelled when Grumman G-73 Mallard, VH-CQA, crashed into the Swan River in front of thousands of spectators. The aircraft was a last minute entry in the annual Skyworks event. The big amphibian had made two touch and go landings and was about to make a third. It was in a low steep slow downwind turn for the third landing when the left wing stalled. The machine apparently went into an incipient spin and impacted the water almost vertically. Rescue services rushed to the scene but to no avail. The pilot, owner Peter Lynch, and his female passenger were killed.

Peter Lynch was a leading light in the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Heritage Aviation Museum on the northern NSW coast. The Grumman Mallard had been based at the Evans Head aerodrome but in December had been flown to Perth as part of a business move by Mr. Lynch. It is reported that Mr. Lynch was keen to fly in the Skyworks show and had been in regular contact with CASA to obtain approval to fly in the event.