What happened
On 31 December 2017, a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, registered VH-NOO, was performing charter flights between Rose Bay and Cottage Point in New South Wales. After completing several legs of a flight service, the pilot was instructed to move the aircraft away from the Cottage Point pontoon to allow another aircraft, VH-AAM, to dock. The pilot taxied the aircraft into Cowan Creek, where the engine remained running for approximately 27 minutes while waiting for the other vessel to depart.
At approximately 1457, five passengers boarded the aircraft for a scheduled return trip to Rose Bay. The aircraft began taxiing toward the takeoff area at 1504 and became airborne at 1511. During the initial climb, the aircraft performed a right turn over Cowan Water. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude, estimated at roughly 30 meters, while heading south toward Cowan Bay.
As the aircraft entered Jerusalem Bay, observers noted it was flying level or in a slight descent, staying below the surrounding terrain. The engine sound was reported as constant and normal. Near the entrance to Pinta Bay, the aircraft entered a steep right turn at a low level. During this maneuver, the nose of the aircraft dropped, causing it to strike the water approximately 1.2 km from the end of Jerusalem Bay. The impact left the aircraft inverted and submerged. Despite immediate assistance from nearby watercraft, the six fatalities—comprising the pilot and five passengers—were confirmed.