What happened
Shortly after departing Cairns, a twin-engine airplane impacted a dense forested region near Cascade Falls in Redlynch Valley, west of the city. The crash occurred in unknown circumstances, and initial aerial searches conducted over the following three days failed to locate the wreckage due to the thick jungle canopy.
On March 8, a ground search party consisting of approximately 200 personnel from 11th Brigade was deployed to the area. On March 10, this team located the crash site roughly 3 km above Cascade Falls. At that time, only three bodies were visible in the wreckage, prompting a renewed search for missing individuals.
The next morning, on March 11, searchers discovered two additional survivors who were seriously injured. One was found near Freshwater Creek. The aircraft carried a pilot and four passengers. According to the records, the pilot and one passenger died in the accident, while the other three occupants survived with serious injuries.