What happened
During a mission to conduct aerial surveys for forest fire monitoring, a single engine airplane departed from a brief runway located at Mt Baldly. Immediately following the takeoff phase, the aircraft collided with nearby trees and sustained heavy damage, resulting in the plane being written off as a total loss. Despite the impact, all three occupants survived the accident without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several environmental and operational factors that contributed to the crash. The primary cause was the pilot's failure to sustain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff roll. Several complicating elements were noted by investigators:
- The aircraft was operating in high density altitude conditions, estimated at approximately 12,000 feet.
- The takeoff was performed from a short runway located at a high-altitude airport.
- A reduction in wind speed occurred during the critical phase of flight; initial winds of 12 to 15 knots ceased, which caused the aircraft to settle into a downslope trajectory toward the treeline.