Darwin Plane Crash

[Daniel M]

from ntnews.com.au

Apparently an EMB120 on a training flight

Two dead in Darwin plane crash
March 22nd, 2010


TWO people are believe to have been killed when a plane crashed at Darwin's airport this morning.

A witness told the NT News he saw the 18-seater plane crash at the Darwin RAAF base about 10.15am.

He said he watched as the plane flew over the airstrip and into trees near the RAAF golf course on Bagot Rd.

"We just heard this loud bang and then looked and saw the plane explode," one witness said.

Police, St John Ambulance and firefighters have been called to the scene but it is understood the two people on board the light plane were dead before emergency crews arrived.

Defence said it was a civilian plane, not a RAAF aircraft.

St John Ambulance spokesman Michael McKay said paramedics had been unable to get in to the smouldering plane.

"The site has been declared unsafe and the site is still smouldering," he said.

It is believed the plane was an 18-seater metro liner that had been coming from a Territory mine site.

The pilot and one passenger were the only people on board the plane.

[Nigel C]

Metro or EMB120? There's reference to both in your post.:confused:

What was the weather like at the time?

[Daniel M]

Yeh the report mentions a metro, but has apparently been confirmed as an AirNorth EMB120...crashed on takeoff

Latest Darwin weather

DARWIN (YPDN)
TAF YPDN 212217Z 2200/2306
02006KT 9999 FEW025
BECMG 2202/2204 33012KT 9999 FEW035
BECMG 2214/2216 20006KT 9999 FEW020
BECMG 2302/2304 33012KT 9999 FEW035
PROB30 TEMPO 2304/2306 14020G35KT 2000 THUNDERSTORMS WITH RAIN BKN010
SCT020CB
RMK
T 27 31 32 30 Q 1009 1008 1006 1006

TTF METAR YPDN 220230Z 34008KT 9999 FEW028 SCT400 31/23 Q1008
RMK RF00.0/000.0
NOSIG

METAR YPDN 220230Z 34008KT 9999 FEW028 SCT400 31/23 Q1008
RMK RF00.0/000.0

[Mark Harrington]

Definitely an Embraer Brasilia. Looks like VH-ANB....

[Robert Zweck]

The NT News says it was 2 pilots on a training excercise.........

I am told it was VH-ANB.



TWO pilots were killed when a plane crashed at Darwin's airport this morning.

A witness told the Northern Territory News he saw the 30-seater Airnorth Embraer plough into trees at the Darwin RAAF base about 10.15am.

He said he watched as the plane flew over the airstrip and into bush near the RAAF golf course on Bagot Rd.

"We just heard this loud bang and then looked and saw the plane explode."

Police assistant commissioner Mark Payne said the pilots were on a training flight and crashed shortly after take off from the main runway at Darwin airport, which is used by domestic and international flights.

Mr Payne said the two people killed were believed to be experienced pilots who were undergoing routine ongoing training at the time of the crash.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families,'' he said.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen for several kilometres after the plane crashed.

"Most people in Darwin would have been able to see it,'' Mr Payne said.

He said the cause of the accident was unknown.

Police, St John Ambulance and firefighters sealed off the crash site. St John Ambulance spokesman Michael McKay said paramedics had been unable to get in to the smouldering plane.

"The site has been declared unsafe and the site is still smouldering," he said.

[Robert Zweck]

Looks like a take-off on RWY 29 and they have come down just inside the aerodrome's western boundary.

[Rhys Xanthis]

Just saw this on ABC website, condolences to the families