No fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Crashes into Salt Lake After Bird Strike Near Rottnest Island Airport (VH-IYK)

Rottnest Island, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On November 12, 2006, a Partenavia P.68 (registration VH-IYK) operated by Private Australia was involved in an aviation accident near Rottnest Island, Australia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during initial climb following a bird strike. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered VH-IYK
Aircraft registered VH-IYK. Photo: Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a salt lake near Rottnest Island Airport shortly after takeoff following a bird strike. The aircraft was destroyed, and all six occupants were injured.

Incident Overview and Location Details A twin-engine aircraft experienced a bird strike during its initial climb phase shortly after departing from Rottnest Island Airport. The incident occurred in the immediate vicinity of the airport, with the aircraft ultimately crashing into a salt lake located nearby. The source does not specify the exact aircraft type, registration, operator, or the precise date of the event. ## Impact and Occupant Status The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the salt lake. All six individuals on board were reported to have sustained injuries as a result of the crash. No fatalities were mentioned in the provided source material. ## Official Probable Cause The official investigation findings identified the probable cause of the accident as a loss of control during the initial climb phase, which occurred following the bird strike.