Savannah down in Darwin

[dlegg]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-27/man-dies-in-light-plane-crash-in-weddell-south-east-of-darwin/11644134

 

 

[alf jessup]

Very sad to lose a fellow aviator.

 

Condolences to his family and friends.

 

Wonder if we will ever find out from the RAA investigation.

 

 

[kgwilson]

1.5 km from the airfield. Engine failure perhaps? Landed in scrub doesn't say much. It would be good to get some information. Condolences to his family & friends.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

LUKE HAYES  

 

A MUCH-loved man has tragically died after the light plane he was piloting crashed into dense scrubland in the rural area yesterday. 

 

Rural resident John Gotts, 64, was killed when the single engine, fixed wing light aircraft crashed in bushland at Weddell shortly before 10am. 

 

Superintendent Lauren Hill said the deceased man, who was identified as Mr Gotts last night, was the only person inside the aircraft when it crashed but the cause of the accident remained unknown . Supt Hill said the flight originated from the Emkaytee Airfield, which is about 1.5km east of the crash site and came to rest about 200m north of Jenkins Rd. 

 

Darwin Airport air traffic control first notified NT Police and emergency services of reports that an aircraft had gone missing about 9.55am. 

 

A search by other aircraft in the region subsequently confirmed the light plane had crashed into bushland. 

 

Police and firefighters were first on the scene, cordoning off the area before staff from the coroner’s office and major crime investigators arrived. 

 

The dead man’s next of kin were notified and they were also present at the crash site. 

 

Supt Hill said Recreational Aviation Australia personnel would investigate the crash, as opposed to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau , which would have investigated if the aircraft had been commercially registered . 

 

“The Recreational Aviation Australia investigators will be attending Darwin, and they will be working with major crime at the crash site to determine the cause of the crash,” she said. 

 

“A crime scene is open at the location, forensic officers have processed the scene, and the deceased has been removed from the area.” 

 

Details about where the aircraft was headed, or if the accident occurred during takeoff or landing procedures remain unclear. 

 

It is also unclear as to if there was any dialogue between the pilot and air traffic controllers before the crash happened. 

 

The exact make and model of the aircraft is still undetermined. 

 

Supt Hill urged anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard the plane before the incident to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

 

 

Copyright © 2019 News Pty Limited

 

 

[farri]

https://www.9news.com.au/national/plane-crash-darwin-news-fatal-plane-crash-victim-john-gotts-identified/2e5314bf-bed7-46c2-a760-b07247420740

 

 

[Downunder]

Looked like a nice aircraft.

 

I'm guessing with cowls like that, it wasn't Rotax powered?

 

 

[IBob]

That is the standard Savannah XL or S cowling setup for the Rotax 912, Downunder.

 

The early model, but with the vortex generators is the VG.

 

Then ICP reworked the front, increased the cockpit size, the rake on the windscreen etc to produce the XL.

 

Then they reworked the rear fuselage, rounding it off, to produce the S.

 

 

[walrus]

Engine failure followed by an attempted turn back?

 

 

[turboplanner]

Engine failure followed by an attempted turn back?

 

 Well if it was, I’d hope he hadn’t read one of the RA forums where people discussed how easy it was to turn back and land on the runway you took off from. 

 

Did you work that out from the runway and resting place?

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

At 1.5 km from the airfield probably on takeoff...maybe forgot to turn the main fuel on. EFATO then maybe trying to stretch it over the heavy bush. I havent been there but a friend recently has and said it has a lot of heavy scrub around it. Condolences to the pilots family. Hopefully we will find something out about why and how this happened. RAA need to be more proactive in lettings its member know any outcome they find.

 

Just looked again at the video and the wing looks very intact. Maybe a medical issue too I suppose..its all speculation I know. But again it would be good to find out some possible causes from RAA. Maybe we need to push this more with the committee

 

 

[NT5224]

Poor John!

 

Its always heartbraking to lose a brother aviator. And sincere condolences to his family.

 

I'll await any further information and the results of investigations with interest...

 

Alan

 

 

[turboplanner]

Just looked again at the video and the wing looks very intact. Maybe a medical issue too I suppose..its all speculation I know. But again it would be good to find out some possible causes from RAA. Maybe we need to push this more with the committee

 

Based on a description elsewhere the white circle would be the location, if based from the Club. If the description is based of the left end of the main strip, the circle moves proportionately to the left. A witness report that the aircraft was flying normally then dropped into a spin, theen seemingly recover at the last minutue could indicate medical.

 

RAA accidents are a State Coroner responsibility, and Police prepare the Briefs. Police make the decision on whether to call in RAA, but RAA don't have any authority to release.

 

ATSB can step in at their discretion, limited by budget, and the type of accident (if it was an obvious cause like a heart attack there's no point in them investigating).

 

The most frustrating thing for us is that even though someone knows the cause, we never get to hear it. The Coroner is looking for a cause of death, not a cause of the chain of events we're interested in.

 

[dlegg]

Some scumbags put up a false go fund me for the funeral.....beggars belief with no respect for the family.