What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, the aircraft, registered VH-SWP, was performing a multi-leg commercial flight route including Bankstown, Tammatworth, Armidale, Glen Innes, and Inverell. Following a period of rest in Inverell, the pilot prepared for the return leg of the journey. At 1723, the pilot notified Sydney Flight Service of his departure from Armidale, heading toward Tamworth with an expected flight duration of 17 minutes.
While the flight plan specified IFR procedures and a target altitude of 6,000 ft, the pilot encountered traffic constraints. A slower aircraft had departed Armidale just two minutes prior and was climbing to the planned altitude, while additional traffic was present at 7,000 ft. To maintain separation, the pilot chose to fly at 4,500 ft under visual meteorological conditions. At 1727, the pilot received clearance from Tamworth Tower to track directly to the destination at this lower altitude.
At approximately 1732, the pilot requested permission to descend and was cleared for a visual approach, with instructions to report at a specific distance from the airport. The pilot confirmed he was beginning his descent from 4,500 ft. However, subsequent attempts by air traffic control to contact the aircraft were met with no response. Shortly after 1740, reports of an explosion surfaced near a mountain range located 8 NM northeast of Tamworth Airport. Search teams located the wreckage on the mountain range later that evening. During the initial search, a local pilot noted that the mountain peaks and nearby valleys were obscured by heavy cloud cover.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at 4,500 ft, which was below the planned IFR altitude due to traffic separation requirements.
- The aircraft was not being actively monitored by radar at the time of the disappearance.
- Local weather conditions included low cloud cover over the mountain range and in the adjacent valley.