Light Aircraft Crash Merriton Sth Aust, 8 Oct 2023

[FlyingVizsla]

 

Light plane crash at Merriton in regional South Australia with two people on board - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

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Emergency services are responding to a light plane crash at Merriton, in the state's mid-north. 

 

[Jabiru7252]

Jamestown airshow was on today, lots of planes around the area.

[tillmanr]

Stated in the report that this is not connected to the air show. 

[bushcaddy105]

ABC news photo shows a power pole, possibly on a SWER line, at the edge of the burnt area and close to the wreckage. May or may not be significant.

[onetrack]

Aircraft is reported by S.A. Police to have hit a powerline prior to crashing. The 24 yr old passenger is deceased, the 50 yr old pilot is in critical condition. This has been a black week for light aviation.

 

https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police-news-assets/front-page-news/plane-crash-at-merriton

[red750]

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/346356

[onetrack]

ABC is reporting both men have now died, a father and son. Condolences to family and friends, what a terrible thing to have happen.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-09/two-men-killed-in-light-plane-crash-at-merriton/102950490

[alf jessup]

Powerlines have killed many in the past and will continue to do so in the future unfortunately.

As in most pilots eyes it always happens to someone else.

This is a terrible loss to the family involved.

[onetrack]

ATSB have confirmed the crash cause evidence is definitely suggesting a powerline strike upon landing. What puzzles me, it appears the crash was on the familys farm, and I would've expected the pilot to be fully familiar with the powerline locations in that area - so perhaps the cause was engine failure (carburettor icing?) on final?

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-10/atsb-initial-evidence-deadly-light-plane-crash-at-merriton/102958168

[Thruster88]

Carb ice is most unlikely with that engine model. If that was the cause there would be many per week landing of airport.