1983-08-28: Beechcraft 200 Super King Air (VH-KTE) — R. R. Moore & Company — Adavale, Australia

12 fatalitiesAdavale, AustraliaFlight

A twin-engine aircraft experienced a mid-air breakup during cruise flight near Adavale, resulting in the deaths of all 12 people on board.

What happened

During a period of stable weather conditions, a twin-engine aircraft was maintaining an altitude of 27,000 feet while traveling over the city of Adavale. During this cruise phase, the aircraft suddenly lost stability and transitioned into a steep dive.

As the plane descended approximately 7,000 feet, the intensity of the gravitational forces acting on the airframe led to a catastrophic structural failure. The excessive g-loads caused the fuselage and both wings to separate from the main structure. Debris from the accident was located roughly 3.5 km south of Adavale. There were 12 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors recorded.

Findings

Official investigations into the incident concluded that there was not enough evidence available to identify the specific factors or circumstances that triggered the initial loss of control or the subsequent mid-air disintegration of the aircraft.

Probable cause

Investigators were unable to determine the specific cause of the aircraft's loss of control and structural breakup due to insufficient evidence.