Serpentine - Serpentine

On 26 January 2017, the pilot of a Grumman American Aviation Corp G-73 amphibian aircraft, registered VH-CQA (CQA), was participating in an air display as part of the City of Perth Australia Day Skyworks event. On board were the pilot and a passenger. The pilot of CQA was flying ‘in company’ with a Cessna Caravan amphibian and was conducting operations over Perth Water on the Swan River, that included low-level passes of the Langley Park foreshore. After conducting two passes in company, both aircraft departed the display area. The pilot of CQA subsequently requested and received approval to conduct a third pass, and returned to the display area without the Cessna Caravan. During positioning for the third pass, the aircraft departed controlled flight and collided with the water. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

Flight / Schedule

Serpentine - Serpentine

Registration

VH-CQA

MSN

J-35

Year of Manufacture

1948

Date

January 26, 2017 at 05:08 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Demonstration

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Perth Western Australia

Region

Oceania • Australia

Coordinates

-31.9507°, 115.7979°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On January 26, 2017 at 05:08 PM, Serpentine - Serpentine experienced a crash involving Grumman G-73 Mallard, operated by Private Australian, with the event recorded near Perth Western Australia.

The flight was categorized as demonstration and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. On 26 January 2017, the pilot of a Grumman American Aviation Corp G-73 amphibian aircraft, registered VH-CQA (CQA), was participating in an air display as part of the City of Perth Australia Day Skyworks event. On board were the pilot and a passenger. The pilot of CQA was flying ‘in company’ with a Cessna Caravan amphibian and was conducting operations over Perth Water on the Swan River, that included low-level passes of the Langley Park foreshore. After conducting two passes in company, both aircraft departed the display area. The pilot of CQA subsequently requested and received approval to conduct a third pass, and returned to the display area without the Cessna Caravan. During positioning for the third pass, the aircraft departed controlled flight and collided with the water. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-CQA, MSN J-35, year of manufacture 1948.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -31.9507°, 115.7979°.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

1

Passengers

1

Other

0

Crash Summary

On 26 January 2017, the pilot of a Grumman American Aviation Corp G-73 amphibian aircraft, registered VH-CQA (CQA), was participating in an air display as part of the City of Perth Australia Day Skyworks event. On board were the pilot and a passenger. The pilot of CQA was flying ‘in company’ with a Cessna Caravan amphibian and was conducting operations over Perth Water on the Swan River, that included low-level passes of the Langley Park foreshore. After conducting two passes in company, both aircraft departed the display area. The pilot of CQA subsequently requested and received approval to conduct a third pass, and returned to the display area without the Cessna Caravan. During positioning for the third pass, the aircraft departed controlled flight and collided with the water. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

1

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Serpentine - Serpentine

Flight Type

Demonstration

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Oceania • Australia

Aircraft Details

Registration

VH-CQA

MSN

J-35

Year of Manufacture

1948