First findings released on crash that left Hunter stunt pilot seriously injured
The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries.
His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia".
Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre".
The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain".
The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape.
The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level.
"During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash.
"Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain."
The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book.
The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening".
Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness".
The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash.
Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors".
A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation.
"Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said.
EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage.
The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries.
His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia".
Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre".
The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain".
The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape.
The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level.
"During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash.
"Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain."
The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book.
The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening".
Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness".
The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash.
Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors".
A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation.
"Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said.
EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage.
The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries.
His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia".
Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre".
The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain".
The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape.
The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level.
"During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash.
"Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain."
The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book.
The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening".
Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness".
The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash.
Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors".
A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation.
"Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said.
EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage.
The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries.
His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia".
Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre".
The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain".
The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape.
The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level.
"During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash.
"Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain."
The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book.
The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening".
Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness".
The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash.
Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors".
A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation.
"Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said.
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
Fears massive rock column was about to collapse onto coastal walkway
A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence. A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence. A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence. A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Helicopter close call in Tasmania in 2024 unreported to safety authorities until video tip-off to ATSB
An incident in which a helicopter crew disagreed before the aircraft smashed into a lake due to pilot miscalculation was not reported to safety authorities, in breach of regulations. The incident in Tullah, in Tasmania's north-west in July 2024, only came to light after a member of the public saw a video on Facebook and later reported it to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The Bell 214B-1 helicopter, operated by McDermott Aviation, had departed a private airfield at Cressy, Tasmania for an "external sling load operation" at Tullah, the ATSB report said. The helicopter was crewed by two pilots, with the copilot as "pilot flying" in control of the aircraft. As the helicopter arrived over Tullah, the crew "observed significant fog over most of the town, from the reservoir to the ridge". The crew "discussed the available options to land at Tullah", with disagreement over which approach to take — after which control was taken over by the other crew member, referred to in the report as the "pilot in command" (PIC). The PIC "reported as the sun was low on the horizon and the water was glassy calm, there was a reflection of the edge of town and trees along the reservoir, reducing their depth perception". Due to a "concern with possibly flying into the water, the PIC planned to conduct a slow and steep approach towards the reservoir", the ATSB found. The PIC "anticipated they would become visual with the water at approximately 100-200 feet (30-60 metres), aided by the rotor downwash disturbing the water surface", with the pilot then using this "as a height reference, then climb back to 500 ft (150 metres) to continue to the edge of town for further descent". However, during the descent, the rotor downwash was "not visible to the crew due to the descent angle", with the crew losing sight of the "visual reference with the water". At approximately 5 feet (1.5 metres), the crew "identified the water surface", with the PIC "immediately" applying power to "stop the descent and initiate a climb", the report noted. The ATSB said the video showed the helicopter "making a significant splash", before it pulls away and climbs to 500 feet above the water. In its report, the ATSB said the "serious incident" was not reported at the time by the helicopter operator, as is "required by the Transport Safety Investigation Regulations". It decided to investigate after "receiving video of the incident from a third party". There were no injuries arising out of the incident, the report said. The incident first came to light after a video was shared in a community Facebook group about helicopters being involved in communication tower upgrades in the local area. The post, shared a day after the incident, shows the helicopter involved — the yellow and blue McDermott Aviation Bell 214 with another helicopter during "emergency services communications upgrade" work — and mentions "fog/low cloud" in the area. The video posted into the comments, later deleted but obtained by the ABC, shows the helicopter coming in low and hitting the water, before pulling away — with a witness heard exclaiming "what the f***?". The witness, who asked to not be named, told the ABC they were "just hoping they'd get back up and the motor didn't die". The member of the public who reported the incident to the ATSB said they did so after they could not get answers as to what happened from the company. "I am just disappointed that it never got reported from the pilots, when it was a clear incident involving terrain," said the person, who also asked to remain anonymous. The ATSB concluded the helicopter crew did not follow "effective" communication and "decision-making" protocols, known as crew resource management, in the lead-up to the incident, which it said "could have been avoided". McDermott Aviation Group promotes itself as Australia's "largest privately owned aviation company", with operations across the country and in the US, "Port Moresby, New Caledonia, Europe and Greece". On the company website, it says it operates 13 Bell 214 "heavy lift" helicopters in its fleet As well as other tasks, the company's helicopters have been involved in numerous firefighting operations in Tasmania. McDermott Aviation has been contacted for comment.
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Queensland flight examiner's last words to wife just hours before fatal plane crash claimed his life revealed
The longtime wife of a man who died following a tragic plane crash over the weekend has revealed the last words he spoke to her just hours before take-off. Flight examiner and war veteran Robert 'Bob' Molony was one of two men onboard an Aero Logistics aircraft which crashed west of Toowoomba, Queensland on Sunday afternoon. Emergency responders rushed to scene at Devon Park near Oakley at about 3.10pm following reports of a crash, with police saying in a statement the two male occupants of the aircraft were declared dead at the scene. Pilot Wayne Saunders has been identified as the other man onboard the 35-year-old French made twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406 that took off from Warwick Airport. The Courier Mail reports Stephanie Molony, who had been married to Mr Molony for nearly three decades, has said her husband will leave a legacy of having been 'one of the most experienced pilots around'. 'I'm so proud of him and the person he was for the industry, that they've now got people like him to aspire to be,' she said. Ms Molony also revealed she and the 78-year-old had shopped for fruit trees at a Bunnings on Sunday morning before her husband's flight that afternoon. She said the flight examiner had yelled to her 'I'll be home at 4pm to plant those trees' as he walked out the door. 'There was nothing extra about it, just as simple as that,' she said. 'It got to 4.30pm and I tried ringing his mobile and it went to message bank. Ms Molony drove to the airport the plane had departed from and discovered her husband's parked car, before police then arrived to deliver the news, according to the masthead. It comes after the chief executive of Aero Logistics – an Archerfield-based aircraft charter and rental service – described Sunday's incident as 'tragedy'. 'This is a terrible tragedy for the two people on-board the aircraft and their families, friends and workmates,' chief executive Ben Smee said on Monday. 'This is a devastating loss for everyone who knew them. 'We have offered our support and assistance to their families as they come to terms with the situation. We have also made counselling services available for our staff.' An investigation into determining the cause of the crash could take up to six weeks, according to the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB). Mr Molony, originally from Brisbane, was a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot who was deployed to South Vietnam as a Canberra bomber navigator, having amassed more than 14,000 flight hours over his career. The ATSB has said its investigation involves a team of investigators from Brisbane and Cairns. 'Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra,' a statement said. 'Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information."
