The crash of a Cessna 150 during mustering operations near Bourke last year was caused by a stall, according to the ATSB investgation report released today.
The aircraft, VH-UWR, was being used to muster cattle on Warraweena station on April 29, 2012, when it crashed.
"Shortly before 0800, the pilot advised the stockmen that there was a mob of cattle that didn’t want to move from an area of scrub," the ATSB has reported. "The pilot directed the stockmen to the cattle by indicating that they were ‘…over here under my left wing’. At about the same time, one of the stockmen observed the aircraft in a turn but had to re-focus his attention to the ground as he made his way towards the area of scrub.
"Less than a minute later, another stockman observed the aircraft in what was described as a near-vertical descent followed by the sound of an impact, and immediately rushed towards the accident site.
"The aircraft was seriously damaged and the pilot sustained fatal injuries."
Even though there was no direct evidence of a stall, witness statements were consistent with a stall, and the aircraft was in a sustained low-level turn, which often creates a situation conducive to stalling.
The ATSB concluded that there were no pre-existing defects or physiological factors that contributed to the crash, however, the following were considered operational anomalies.
- The aircraft was likely overdue for its 100-hourly.
- The pilot did not have a valid medical.
- The pilot had not done a mandatory flight review for several years.
The full report is available on the ATSB website here.