What happened
A medical transport mission traveling from Tablelands to Derby ended in a fatal accident when an aircraft operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service went down in the King Leopold Ranges. The flight was performing an ambulance service, transporting a pediatric patient, the child's father, two nurses, and the pilot.
During the flight, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by thunderstorm activity and significant turbulence. During this period of instability, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The plane subsequently crashed into Hawkstone Peak. Following the failure of the flight to reach its destination in Derby, search and rescue operations were initiated. However, the wreckage was not located until three weeks after the disappearance.
Findings
The crash resulted in five fatalities, including all occupants on board. The primary factor contributing to the accident was the encounter with severe thunderstorm activity and turbulence which led to the loss of control.