Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Albury American Samoa
Tuesady, August 12, 2003 UTC

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On August 12, 2003, about 0001 universal coordinated time (UTC), a Piper PA-31-350, VH-UBC, made an off airport precautionary landing about 10 miles northeast of Albury Aerodrome, New South Wales, Australia. Wodonga Services P/L was operating the airplane under the provisions of the Australian civil aviation regulations. The pilot and five passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight departed Albury. The primary wreckage was at 35 degrees 53 minutes south latitude and 147 degrees 08 minutes east longitude. While passing 5,000 feet on climb out following departure from Albury, the right and then the left engine began to surge. The pilot decided to return to Albury, but both engines continued to surge. The pilot elected to land the aircraft in a paddock. The aircraft's landing gear sheared off during the landing, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The accident is under the jurisdiction of and is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Further information can be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau 15 Mort Street, Braddon ACT 2612, Australia P.O. Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608, Australia Phone +61 2 6274 6464 Fax +61 2 6274 6434 Web site www.atsb.gov.au

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1
Event Time Zone Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Event City Albury
Event State UNKNOWN
Event Country AMERICAN SAMOA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355300S
Event Location Longitude 1470800E
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 6
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Australian TSB
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2003 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Basic weather conditions --
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number LAX03WA278
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Albury
Departure State --
Departure Country AS
Departure Time 2350
Departure Time Zone UTC
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Unknown
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Climb - to cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2003 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --