Carnarvon - Mount Augustus

The twin engine airplane departed Carnarvon on an ambulance flight to Mount Augustus to evacuate a sick child. On board were one nurse and one pilot. The approach to Mount Augustus was initiated in limited visibility due to a moonless night and six vehicles were dispatched on the ground with lights on. While turning on final, the airplane was too low, struck trees and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Flight / Schedule

Carnarvon - Mount Augustus

Registration

VH-DEE

MSN

31-8012072

Year of Manufacture

1980

Date

July 4, 1981 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Ambulance

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Mount Augustus Western Australia

Region

Oceania • Australia

Coordinates

-24.3254°, 116.8422°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On July 4, 1981 at 12:00 AM, Carnarvon - Mount Augustus experienced a crash involving Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, operated by Royal Flying Doctor Service - RFDS, with the event recorded near Mount Augustus Western Australia.

The flight was categorized as ambulance and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine airplane departed Carnarvon on an ambulance flight to Mount Augustus to evacuate a sick child. On board were one nurse and one pilot. The approach to Mount Augustus was initiated in limited visibility due to a moonless night and six vehicles were dispatched on the ground with lights on. While turning on final, the airplane was too low, struck trees and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-DEE, MSN 31-8012072, year of manufacture 1980.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -24.3254°, 116.8422°.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The twin engine airplane departed Carnarvon on an ambulance flight to Mount Augustus to evacuate a sick child. On board were one nurse and one pilot. The approach to Mount Augustus was initiated in limited visibility due to a moonless night and six vehicles were dispatched on the ground with lights on. While turning on final, the airplane was too low, struck trees and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

1

Estimated Survivors

2

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Carnarvon - Mount Augustus

Flight Type

Ambulance

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Oceania • Australia

Aircraft Details

Registration

VH-DEE

MSN

31-8012072

Year of Manufacture

1980

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