What happened
On a training mission near the Byron Bay region, a Ted Smith Aerostar 601, registered VH-WRF, departed from Coolangatta at 13:01 ESuT. The flight was being conducted by a flight instructor and a commercial pilot as part of an initial multi-engine training program, specifically focusing on asymmetric flight maneuvers. The aircraft was operating within uncontrolled airspace, meaning no air traffic control monitoring was active during the flight.
At approximately 14:45, the aircraft's operator notified Australian Search and Rescue that the plane was overdue and had failed to return to its destination. Radar data provided by Airservices Australia indicated that the aircraft had lost radar contact at 1el3:35. At the moment of disappearance, the aircraft was positioned roughly 18 km east-south-east of Cape Byron.
Following the report, search vessels inspected the area near the last known radar position. Rescuers located various pieces of debris, including cabin insulation, a seat cushion, a blanket, and several pages from an aircraft checklist. Notably, none of the recovered items exhibited signs of fire or heat-related damage. Despite these findings, no further wreckage or traces of the aircraft were located.
Findings
- The flight was operating in uncontrolled airspace without active air traffic control oversight.
- Weather conditions at the time of the disappearance included scattered clouds with a base between 2,000 and 2,500 feet and a south-easterly wind of 10 to 12 knots.
- The aircraft disappeared from radar coverage approximately 34 minutes after its initial departure.