So i lost my handheld camera.. somehow. Im not sure how it happened, but it did. So i have been forced to learn how to use my SLR. Not a bad thing, but also not that convenient to carry.
However, back to the title of the post. This is the rego of a Westwind aircraft, operated by Pel-Air, that crashed on approach into Alice Springs back in 1995. This is the ATSB report for the crash for anyone interested.
I wont go into much detail with it, but it was definately something, although a tad morbid, i enjoyed researching and seeing the wreckage. They were doing a NDB/Locator approach, which used 3 different navaids, which was at the time unique to Alice Springs airport. There were a whole list of things that went wrong, however the crux of the crash was that the FO set the minimums of the approach to 2,300 feet, rather than the 3,100 required for CAT C aeroplanes. However, the captain agreed with the minimums that the FO set. They also had excessive decent rates after the final approach fix. And finally decended to the circling minima before being within the circling area, and being well below the MDA. When you see the crash site, its sad to know that if they had been around 20ft higher, they would not have collided.
This is a photo of the rock where they first collided. You can see aluminium scratch marks on the rock and then the trail of destruction begins. This is on the Northern Side of the Ilparpa range.
Some wreckage which you can follow along the trail. I have taken various shots of aircraft pieces. We found everything from the DME, to some of the cargo that was on board. Apparently when it crashed it was carrying a fair bit of money and it was said to have scattered money all over the ranges.
This photo shows you the southern side of the Ilparpa range. You can see a tiger A320 coming into land on rwy 12. The Ilparpa is on the Southern side to the Macdonnell ranges.
This is part of the main wheel and wing assembly. This is located in a small valley down the southern side of the range.
This is a piece of the fuselage. Hard to tell if its part of the cockpit section or the side, but you can see how devastating the impact was. We found one of the cockpit seats and it was almost unrecognisable as a seat.
Interesting how the wreckage is still there from 1995. Only a difference of 20', wow. That is truly something.
ReplyDeleteyeah, how could the wreckage be there after 14 years? anyway, i can't seem to open the link about the crash report you posted. Anyone died?
ReplyDeleteYou find any money?
ReplyDeleteAny old school fifty dollar notes?
What playlists you listen to whilst you fly?
Do you have GPS co-ordinates for the site? I had a pilot friend in the passenger seat and if I end up in The Alice I'd like to visit the site. It doesn't look too accessible. It was his one and only ride in a Pel Air jet.
ReplyDeleteWas this Terry Bird?
DeleteYes Terry was a passenger. My 1st cousin George was 1st officer. I went to Alice for the inquest which went for 2 weeks then moved to Darwin for the final decision on the accident.
Deletehey.. its at the ilparpa ranges, which is on the way from the airport to the town.. you need to goto the dirt bike club, park around there and walk up.. it only takes about 20 minutes to get there from memory.
ReplyDeleteTruly a sad ending to two lives. Also sad for the pilots of the other Pel-Air Jet (Wards Express) waiting on the ground in ASP.
ReplyDeleteI remember this as a child vividly. Terry was a very close family friend and I attended his funeral. He was a police officer who then chased his dream of being a pilot and was working charter out of Groote Eiylandt. He was hitching a ride with your cousin back home from NT to see his parents. I'm sorry to hear of the loss your family endured
ReplyDeleteA terrible crash when all the factors are put together.
DeleteTerry was a mate of some 20 years before he passed away. In his final years as a Victorian Policeman he flew Pol Air 1 the Vic Police chopper. He loved to fly. Also a brilliant musician. Miss ya mate RIP.
He was my ATPl class mate I always miss him.The accident sadly happened on the night before my birthday. He was a great guy I miss even to this day.
DeleteI was a NTES volunteer and attended the crash the evening it happened. We assisted the ATSB and NT Police removing the bodies and collecting the cargo that had been scattered around the crash site. Items included US currency, diamonds that were being transprted to Adelaide from Darwin for a Jewellery business, blood in test tubes for pathology testing and lots of bank paperwork.
ReplyDelete