What happened
During a routine training mission, the pilot lost situational awareness and became disoriented. The aircraft remained airborne for approximately six and a half hours, significantly exceeding the standard endurance limit by about two hours. As fuel reserves were depleted, the crew was compelled to execute an emergency landing on a beach near Coffs Harbour.
All four individuals on board, including the pilot, wireless operator, and two additional crew members, were successfully rescued from the wreckage. The airframe sustained severe damage and was declared beyond repair. No fatalities or injuries were reported among the personnel.
Findings
The official investigation identified fuel exhaustion as the direct cause of the incident. The flight duration extended well past the accepted operational limits for the aircraft type, leading to the loss of power and the subsequent forced landing in a non-standard environment.