Flight Sequence
The aircraft was the third in a stream of five company aircraft departing the Tangalooma Resort airstrip at two-minute intervals on a clear moonlit evening. Following a routine departure at 2105 EST, the aircraft climbed to 3,000 ft for the flight back to Coolangatta. Early in the cruise phase, the pilot found that the fourth aircraft was catching up and elected to descend to 2,000 ft to ensure continued separation.
Engine Problems
At 2127 EST, the pilot reported to Coolangatta Approach Control that the aircraft had severe problems but did not inform the controller of the nature of the emergency. The controller activated airport emergency procedures upon observing on radar that the aircraft was losing altitude. The pilot had his second VHF radio transceiver tuned to the company frequency and was answering transmissions from other company pilots while transmitting on the Coolangatta Approach frequency.
The pilot later said that after the aircraft passed the seaway at Southport, the right engine surged, causing the aircraft to yaw. After switching the electric fuel pump to "on," the symptoms disappeared. About a minute later, he switched the pump off, then on again. When the engine began surging again, he shut the engine down, feathering the propeller. The left engine power was increased, and the aircraft maintained 1,500 ft in level flight. He switched the left engine's fuel supply to the right main tank, believing this action would ensure supply from both main fuel tanks.
Emergency Descent and Forced Landing
The pilot said that after the aircraft passed Burleigh Heads, the left engine began to splutter and did not respond to the throttle. He attempted to restart the right engine, which proved unsuccessful. As the descent continued, he planned to land on a beach and selected a stretch of beach for a forced landing. During late final approach, aided by bright moonlight, he noticed that any overrun would take the aircraft into a crowded car park. He changed his aim point to the stretch of beach south of the Currumbin Lifesavers Clubhouse.
Aftermath
Following the flare for landing, the right wing struck a low rocky outcrop, and the aircraft crashed into the surf. The entire wing assembly separated from the fuselage, which came to rest on its left side. Some of the nine passengers and the pilot escaped from the semi-submerged fuselage, while bystanders rescued others.