What happened
A mission conducted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) ended in tragedy when an aircraft crashed into the sea approximately 27 miles east of Wollongong. The flight departed from Sydney-Mascot at 10:34 local time, tasked with performing cloud measurements during periods of adverse weather.
During the operation, the crew received authorization to reduce their altitude from 6,000 feet down to 2,000 feet. However, during this descent, the aircraft experienced a simultaneous failure of both engines. This loss of power caused the plane to become uncontrollable, leading to its impact with the water.
Search efforts recovered minimal debris floating on the ocean surface. The accident resulted in six fatalities, as all six individuals on board—comprising four crew members and two passengers—were killed in the crash.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the primary factor in the loss of the aircraft was the dual engine failure experienced during the descent.