What happened
During a skydiving exhibition conducted near Manly Beach, northeast of Sydney, an aircraft experienced a sudden engine failure that resulted in an onboard fire. The incident occurred while the plane was performing maneuvers over the ocean.
As the malfunction progressed, eight skydivers successfully exited the Norseman at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet. Following the jumpers, the pilot also deployed a parachute to descend safely. During the descent, the pilot's parachute came into close proximity with the descending, circling aircraft.
The aircraft eventually impacted the water approximately 6 miles from the shoreline and 5 miles southeast of the Sydney Heads. Despite the impact, all individuals involved—including the eight parachutists and the pilot—were successfully recovered by maritime rescue vessels. There were zero fatalities reported during the event.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was an engine failure occurring during flight.