Wittman Tailwind crashes into terrain during flight through low visibility

Casualties unknown • Tooloom National Park, 53 km ENE from Stanthorpe, New South Wales

An amateur-built aircraft crashed into terrain in New South Wales after the pilot encountered reduced visibility while attempting to cross the McPherson Range.

What happened

While traveling from Evans Head, New South Wales, to Boonah, Queensland, the pilot of a Wittman Tailwind, registration VH-TWQ, diverted to Casino due to low cloud cover over the McPherson Range. After a fifty-minute delay on the ground, the pilot departed Casino, attempting a new route to reach the destination. During the flight, the aircraft entered an area where visibility was significantly reduced. Approximately fifteen minutes after takeoff, the aircraft performed a series of rapid climbs and descents, followed by a descending left turn that resulted in a collision with terrain.

The investigation

The investigation focused on why a pilot operating under visual flight rules (VFR) entered an area of low visibility and subsequently lost control. Examination of the wreckage and the site revealed no mechanical defects or anomalies that contributed to the accident. Furthermore, there was no evidence to suggest the pilot had become incapacitated.

Investigators analyzed the weather forecasts and the pilot's decision-making process. While the graphical area forecasts did not strictly prohibit VFR flight, they did indicate the potential for cloud, rain, and dust that could drop visibility below VFR requirements. The pilot had previously demonstrated an awareness of weather risks by diverting to Casino, but the decision to depart Casino likely relied on the hope that conditions further inland would remain acceptable. The investigation noted that the pilot's climb to 4,100 ft likely took the aircraft above the observed cloud base of 2,600–2,800 ft, but subsequent maneuvers and entering cloud near the Tooloom Fire Tower led to the loss of visual reference.

Findings

  • The pilot's decision to depart Casino was likely based on the assumption that weather conditions over the ranges would permit VFR flight.
  • The aircraft entered an area of deteriorating visibility, which may have prompted the rapid changes in altitude and groundspeed.
  • The pilot likely entered cloud during a climb near the Tooloom Fire Tower, leading to the loss of visual contact with the terrain.

Probable cause

The pilot entered an area of reduced visibility and cloud, leading to a loss of visual reference with the terrain and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2020-01-12 Amateur Built Aircraft Wittman Tailwind W10 accident near Tooloom National Park, 53 km ENE from Stanthorpe, New South Wales?

An amateur-built aircraft crashed into terrain in New South Wales after the pilot encountered reduced visibility while attempting to cross the McPherson Range.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-01-12 involved a Amateur Built Aircraft Wittman Tailwind W10, registration VH-TWQ, at Tooloom National Park, 53 km ENE from Stanthorpe, New South Wales.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot entered an area of reduced visibility and cloud, leading to a loss of visual reference with the terrain and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.

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