Flight History
The Beech E90, registration VH-LFH, was operated by the owner as pilot-in-command. The pilot filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan from Cairns to Wondai and then to Camden, with a private category and single pilot. The aircraft departed Cairns at 1830 hours EST with six passengers, arriving at Wondai at 2142 hours after an uneventful flight. One passenger deplaned at Wondai. The aircraft was refueled with 800 liters of aviation turbine fuel.
Accident Sequence
At 2243 hours EST, the pilot reported taxiing for Runway 36 at Wondai to Brisbane Flight Service. The aircraft received an airways clearance at 2245 hours, which the pilot acknowledged. The last radio contact was at 2248 hours when the pilot reported airborne. Witnesses observed the aircraft take off and shortly after heard the sound of impact. The aircraft struck a line of small trees slightly left of the runway extended centerline, approximately 600 meters from the end of the runway, in a wings-level attitude and shallow descent. Forty-eight meters beyond that point, the aircraft impacted the ground and began to break up. It then contacted several large trees and caught fire, coming to rest 90 meters further.
Injuries and Damage
One passenger sustained serious injuries. The five other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
Probable Cause
The official investigation stated that the circumstances leading to the development of this accident could not be established conclusively. However, the evidence supports the following as probable factors:
- The pilot might not have been aware of the human factors aspects associated with dark night take-offs.
- The pilot could have been influenced by stress and/or fatigue.
- The aircraft was taking off towards dark textureless terrain and no visible horizon.
- By transmitting his airborne call very soon after lift-off, the pilot was not devoting his full attention to flying the aircraft.
- The pilot became disoriented and placed the aircraft in a shallow descent as it accelerated after take-off.