The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Seaplane was rebuilt after previous accident
AUSTRALIA: Plane was “destroyed” in 1996 fatal incident
A seaplane that crashed near Sydney and killed five Britons, including a recent St Andrews University graduate, had been rebuilt after it was “destroyed” in a fatal incident more than 20 years ago.
Wreckage of the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver was lifted out of the Hawkesbury River by a crane barge yesterday, five days after the New Year’s Eve tragedy.
Richard Cousins, the 58-year-old chief executive of FTSE 100 company Compass Group, died alongside his sons, Will and St Andrews graduate Edward, aged 25 and 23 respectively, his fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, and her 11-year-old daughter Heather.
The experienced pilot, Australian Gareth Morgan, 44, was also killed.
The aircraft, which was first registered in 1964, was used as a crop duster in Australia prior to its life as a seaplane.
On November 15 1996, it was involved in a crash in Kotupna, New South Wales, in which the pilot was killed.
Under “damage to aircraft” the investigators said it was “destroyed”, and had been carrying a full load of fuel and was beginning to dump a tonne of superphosphate before it crashed.
The report into the incident states that records showed the aircraft had “completed periodic maintenance two days prior to the accident”.
Nat Nagy, executive director of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, was asked about the reports during a press conference as the plane was recovered.
“I am aware of a previous incident with this aircraft,” he said.
“There were a number of factors involved in that incident and that will be something we look at.
“It’s a matter of course and routine in any investigation to look at... the individual aircraft history and any other incidents that may be relevant.”
The aircraft, owned by Sydney Seaplanes, apparently nose-dived into the Hawkesbury River, 25 miles north of Sydney, at about 3.10pm (4.10am GMT) after setting off from Cottage Point bound for the city’s Rose Bay, close to the harbour, on Sunday.
Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings, of New South Wales Marine Area Command, said it appeared there had been “quite an impact on hitting the water”.
The ATSB said the single-engine seaplane had “sunk rapidly” after impact, while Mr Nagy said the wings and pontoons had separated from the fuselage “either on impact or some time after”.