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Nigel C
10th April 2008, 03:04 AM
From www.news.com.au

Sydney plane crash, pilot missing

April 10, 2008 02:30am

A MAJOR search is underway for the pilot of a cargo plane that has crashed into water in Sydney's south after experiencing "technical difficulties."

The pilot, the sole person on board the Metroliner, raised the alarm just minutes after leaving Sydney Airport at 11.20pm last night.

Authorities hold grave fears for the pilot.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said five nautical miles after leaving the airport, it reported technical problems then minutes later disappeared off the radar.

After a massive search involving water police, rescue helicopters and even local fisherman, the wreckage was found about 500m off Bundeena Beach.

Witness Andrew Holmes, 29, of Caringbah said he was driving his boat to a boat mooring when he saw a plane flying erratically dipping left and right.

"I saw it go up in the clouds and then lost it. About 30 seconds later it came down out of the clouds at a 45 degree angle, tried to level out and then just disappeared on the horizon," he said.

The twin turbo propeller plane, operated by Airtex Aviation based out of Bankstown Airport, was transporting mail to Brisbane.

Nigel C
10th April 2008, 06:54 AM
Reports are coming through of boxes and some wreckage being found.
If that's the case, then it's fair to say it was a hard hit and the chances of survival are very slim.

Not a good night.

Nigel C
10th April 2008, 06:56 AM
More from www.news.com.au

Oil slick clue to missing mail plane
April 10, 2008 05:59am

A FREIGHT plane is missing after taking off from Sydney airport overnight.

The Metroliner aircraft operated by Airtex Aviation was occupied only by the male pilot and took off from Sydney bound for Brisbane at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday, a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.

"Ten nautical miles (18.5km) south-east of the airport, air traffic control got a broadcast from the pilot that he was having problems," the spokesman said.

"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4000 feet (1219 metres)."

The aircraft's last reported location puts the Metroliner off the coast from Bundeena in the Royal National Park where a search operation has concentrated its efforts overnight.

A number of parcels, believed to have been aboard the aircraft, have been found in the water, a NSW Police spokesman said.

"Polair have spotted an oil slick in the water," the police spokesman said.

"Water police, Polair and a Sea Hawk helicopter have spent the night searching in an operation run by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra."

The Metroliner, a 19-seat aircraft when used as a passenger plane, is believed to have been on a mail run.

"This particular aircraft was first registered in Australia in February 1998," the CASA spokesman said.

"We don't know what the problem was the pilot was alluding to, he didn't give any details in his broadcast, but obviously that is something we will look into as part of our investigations."

Sarah C
10th April 2008, 07:49 AM
Did the aircraft take off from YSSY or Bankstown? The news reports keep saying YSSY.

Mark D
10th April 2008, 07:53 AM
Did the aircraft take off from YSSY or Bankstown? The news reports keep saying YSSY.
Hi Sarah,
it was YSSY

Andrew C
10th April 2008, 07:53 AM
As I understand it, YSSY was the take off point.

Andrew C
10th April 2008, 08:37 AM
very sad day.
Sydney plane missing
Arjun Ramachandran
April 10, 2008 - 7:28AM


Searchers have found debris floating in the ocean south-east of Sydney after a freight plane went missing overnight.

About 6am, members of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority search and rescue team found boxes and bags believed to be from the aircraft, which was on a mail run from Sydney to Brisbane.

"As yet we are still holding out hope [for the male pilot], but given the debris found it could be the crash site," an AMSA spokeswoman said.

"Water police officers report that they could smell aviation fuel in the area," a spokeswoman told AAP.

"We haven't recovered a body, and a range of private, police and military aircraft continue to search."

Fears were held for the safety of the pilot, who was the only person on the plane when it disappeared.
A fisherman, Andrew Holmes, told Sky News he saw the plane burst into flames and then fall towards the ground.

"It came moving back down at about a 45 degree angle and came back towards the ground, then levelled out and disappeared over the horizon," he said.

The search, which will use sonar equipment, was focused on an area of 80 square miles, about nine kilometres south-east of Bundeena in the Royal National Park.

Four helicopters had joined the search since daylight resumed, the AMSA spokeswoman said.
An air, land and sea exclusion zone is in place between Cronulla and Stanwell Park, five nautical miles (9.25km) out to sea and about 3km inland from the coast.

The plane took off from Sydney Airport about 11.30pm last night. The male pilot, the Metroliner's only occupant, reported problems 10 nautical miles (18.5km) after take-off.

"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4,000 feet (1,219 metres)," a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.

"We don't know what the problem was the pilot was alluding to, he didn't give any details in his broadcast, but obviously that is something we will look into as part of our investigations.''
The twin turboprop aircraft was being used to transport freight.
- with AAP

Sarah C
10th April 2008, 09:05 AM
Hi Sarah,
it was YSSY

Thanks Mark

Raymond Rowe
10th April 2008, 11:45 AM
Rego anyone?????????????????????

Grahame Hutchison
10th April 2008, 01:03 PM
If the media have the Company name slightly wrong and it should be AVTEX at Bankstown, then their aircraft are:

VH-WGV FAIRCHILD INDUSTRIES INC SA226 SA226-TC TC-287 5670 TPE331-3 AVTEX AIR SERVICES PTY LTD

VH-OZA FAIRCHILD INDUSTRIES INC SA227 SA227-AC AC-600 6580 TPE331-11U AVTEX AIR SERVICES PTY LTD
VH-OZN FAIRCHILD INDUSTRIES INC SA227 SA227-AC AC-665 6804 TPE331-11U AVTEX AIR SERVICES PTY LTD
VH-OZV FAIRCHILD INDUSTRIES INC SA227 SA227-AC AC-610B 6580 TPE331-11U-611G AVTEX AIR SERVICES PTY LTD
VH-TGD FAIRCHILD INDUSTRIES INC SA227 SA227-AC AC-667B 6580 TPE331-11U AVTEX AIR SERVICES PTY LTD

"First registered" February 1998 would suggest VH-OZA according to the register.

Kurt A
10th April 2008, 01:14 PM
Airtex exists:
http://www.airtexaviation.com.au/pages/aircraft.html

Mick F
10th April 2008, 02:00 PM
Latest News

Plane wreckage found on ocean floor

April 10, 2008 10:22am
Article from: AAP

THE search for a plane missing off Sydney has located two large pieces of metal on the ocean floor believed to be part of the twin-engined Metroliner.

A sea and air search continued throughout the night for the freight aircraft with just the pilot aboard, which took off from Sydney airport at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday bound for Brisbane on a mail run.

About 6am (AEST) today search teams first found boxes, bags and fibreglass debris believed to be from the aircraft.

"(That debris) certainly is consistent with the missing aircraft," Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said on Sky News.

"There were mail bags located, there was a bit of an oil sheen on the top of the water and there's also some debris which we believe is some of the fuselage.

"My understanding is there are two large pieces of metal that have been located on the bottom of the ocean there and that would indicate that that is also part of the aircraft."

The metal is too deep for police divers to reach and Ms Jiggins said specialist equipment was on its way to the site.

A navy SeaHawk helicopter, private aircraft, NRMA CareFlight, Polair and water police have been involved in the search and HMAS Diamontina, a minesweeper equipped with sonar, is now also at the site about 9km southeast of Bundeena in the Royal National Park.

The male pilot was the only person on board the Metroliner, operated by Airtex Aviation.

Shortly after take off last night, the pilot reported problems.

"Ten nautical miles (18.5km) southeast of the airport, air traffic control got a broadcast from the pilot that he was having problems," a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.

"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4000 feet."

Fishermen told Macquarie radio they saw the plane go into a 45-deg angle dive before bursting into flames.

"What actually has caused the aircraft incident will be a matter now for the Australian Safety Transport Bureau to investigate," Ms Jiggins said on Sky.

Grahame Hutchison
10th April 2008, 03:12 PM
Hi Kurt,

Just checked out Airtex and Avtex and they both operate out of Hanger 501 at Bankstown. Only guessing, but they could be the same company group, as I could not find an Airtex on the CASA register as Operator or Registration Holder, only Avtex.

Nigel C
10th April 2008, 03:39 PM
More from www.news.com.au

Pilot stood no chance - police

April 10, 2008 03:07pm

THE pilot of a plane on a mail run that went down off Sydney had "zero" chance of survival, police say.

The 43-year-old Sydney man was at the controls of the twin-engine Metroliner when it went down in the sea late last night.

The Metroliner was on a mail run from Sydney to Queensland for Airtex Aviation.

Inspector Glenn Finniss of the Marine Area Command said the plane hit the water at high speed.

"The wreckage that's been recovered thus far would indicate a high speed impact into the water and the survivability of that was very, very minimal," he said.

"Because of the search ... we did last night and this morning, the chances of survival are zero."
The search for the pilot would be called off at nightfall, he said.

The pilot reported problems to air traffic control a short time after taking off from Sydney airport at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday.

The plane dropped off the radar moments later.

Retrieving the wreckage would be difficult because it was4.5 nautical miles off Bundeena, south of Sydney, and 117m down, Insp Finniss said.

It was too deep for police divers and the navy to reach, he said.

Police would have salvage experts raise the wrecked plane, which could take up to five days.

"The possibility is that his body is still trapped inside the wreckage," Insp Finniss said.

Mark Grima
10th April 2008, 04:02 PM
Considering the air and sea search involved this is a terrible fact: Airtex are the only private company based at Bankstown (and Sydney area and much of NSW as far as I am aware) that is certified by AUSSAR (Australian Search and Rescue) to operate air searches. In fact I did my Air Observer course with Airtex, through the SES only about 6 weeks ago. We flew in both their Cheiftans.

Does anyone know if the pilot was an Airtex staff member?

May he rest in peace.

M

Nigel C
10th April 2008, 04:17 PM
As stated in the article above, it was a 43 year old male pilot.

NickN
10th April 2008, 04:27 PM
May s/he rest in piece.


Bad time for a faux par like that.

Peace would sound better.

Mark Grima
10th April 2008, 04:34 PM
Thats what i get for doing to much at once. Post corrected and apologies.

NickN
10th April 2008, 04:54 PM
It's ok mate, I have had some real corkers in my time too.

Will T
10th April 2008, 05:40 PM
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2008/AAIR/aair200802204.aspx

Condolences to the family of the pilot. :(

Brenden S
10th April 2008, 08:18 PM
Just watched it on the news. Not much debris floating from what they showed, so the aircraft must be pretty well intact which I am sure will help out the investigators.

Nigel C
10th April 2008, 09:30 PM
Reports say the sonar readings suggest 2 large metal objects have been found on the ocean floor. What those 2 objects are is anyones guess, but if the reports of a hard hit are correct then it could be in numerous pieces.

Unfortunately it's at such a depth that diving is out of the question. They'll have to wait until salvage operators can get in there and start retrieving the pieces.

Furthermore, there was a reasonable swell running last night which calmed down by the morning, and much of the coastline near the accident scene is quite inhospitable. There could be debris scattered over a wide area by now.

Mark D
11th April 2008, 11:01 AM
There were references in the news to recovering the 'black box' from the Metro. Just a CVR I assume, or do they carry some form of flight data recorder? I didn't even think they carried CVR.

Brenden S
11th April 2008, 12:30 PM
The Metro has a CVR and a FDR (fellow Engineer told me yesterday)

Mark D
11th April 2008, 09:03 PM
Thanks Brenden

Nigel C
23rd April 2008, 10:08 PM
Sorry to bump this up, but does anyone know if they have positively identified the location of the wreckage or if a salvage operation is under way?

There were reports recently that it turned out that what they first thought was the wreckage isn't, and that the aircraft location is still unknown.

Regards,

Grahame Hutchison
23rd April 2008, 11:54 PM
Nigel, I found this article on the ATSB web site, no further information availale by the looks of it.

http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2008/alert/2008_13.aspx

Nigel C
24th April 2008, 08:37 AM
Thanks Grahame.

I tried googling for an answer, and that was one of the articles that came up.

Cheers

David Ramsay
24th April 2008, 11:14 AM
I tried googling for an answer

Good lad. If all else fails, do a search. :p

Now where have I heard that before?

Kieran Wells
29th April 2008, 09:02 PM
Saw this when walking past westpoint blacktown post office in my lunch break yesteday, but only just got a chance to post it from the aust post site..Contains alot of info that we all ready know but...

From: http://www.austpost.com.au/BCP/0,1467,CH4567%7EMO19,00.html
Sydney aircraft accident – mail cargo

Our sympathy goes out to the family of the pilot and the staff of Airtex who owned and operated the aircraft that crashed off the coast of Sydney, NSW, last night.
Australia Post confirms that the aircraft was carrying Express Post mail sent from the ACT and NSW on Wednesday 9th April for addresses in Queensland.

The aircraft was carrying approximately 30 per cent of Express Post mail bound for addresses in Queensland for delivery today.

The aircraft was delivering the second of two Express Post consignments from Sydney to Brisbane. The first consignment had already arrived in Brisbane.

Mail to and from other destinations sent yesterday was not involved.

Regrettably, Australia Post advises customers that the mail carried on this aircraft is likely to be damaged or held by the relevant authorities.

Australia Post recommends that customers who sent Express Post to addresses in Queensland from the ACT and NSW on Wednesday 9 April allow time for delivery and then check with the addressee to see if their item has arrived.

Only customers who sent Express Post items and are concerned that their mail has been lost are advised to contact the Australia Post customer contact centre on 13 13 18.

Before calling, customers should have with them the item’s barcode number that is displayed on the peel-off receipt sticker on the Express Post article.

Further Information:

Phone: 03 9204 5362

David Ramsay
30th April 2008, 07:40 AM
I recall some years back when NZ Couriers lost a freighter into the water off the end of 23L at NZAA.

A few days later we had some very wet items of freight returned to us.

Brenden S
30th April 2008, 08:17 PM
certainly taking there time with this. I feel sorry for the family waiting for the body recovery.