In its final report, the transport safety watchdog found that the control yoke was likely continually pushed forward during the steep descent of VH-CPQ, which crashed on 24 January, killing its student pilot, but could not find a reason for the strange input.
VH-DZJ crashed in Port Phillip Bay on 19 November 2023 after colliding with another S-211, VH-DQJ, during an aerobatic formation filming flight.
In its preliminary report, the transport safety watchdog said that the Chipmunk VH-POR, a former military training aircraft that collided with the ground shortly after take-off on 26 April, killing its pilot, appeared to have two unfastened latches on its left engine cowling door as it was taxiing.
The pilot of VH-BAQ sustained minor injuries, and a passenger severe injuries, when the light plane crashed on approach to a grass airstrip at a property near Noosa on 12 November.
VH-RSB hit the ground and caught fire after flying into a power line near Merriton on 8 October, killing both the pilot and the single passenger on board and injuring rescuers. In its final report, the ATSB said the power line was in the way of aircraft landing on the property’s grass runway.
Emergency services found a man’s body in Preston at around 7:30am on Monday, 18 March, after he fell from the basket of a balloon which subsequently landed safely in nearby Yarra Bend Park. Australian Aviation has not been able to confirm the operator of the balloon.