Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gascoyne Junc American Samoa
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 10:15

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On February 13, 2008, about 1015 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Australian registration VH-OUS, and a Robinson helicopter R44, Australian registration VH-ZDP, collided in mid-air 54 kilometers northwest of Gascoyne Junction, Australia. The pilot and passenger of the Piper were killed. The pilot and passenger of the Robinson were not injured. The airplane and helicopter both sustained substantial damage. The flights were both goat-culling operations and departed from Gascoyne Junction about 0905. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Australian government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608 15 Mort St., Canberra City, Australian Capital Territory Telephone: +61 2 6274 6440 Fax: +61 2 6247 3117 Internet: www.atsb.gov.au

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone --
Event City Gascoyne Junc
Event State --
Event Country AMERICAN SAMOA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 242300S
Event Location Longitude 1150100E
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 Witness
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source ATSB
NTSB Notification Date Feb 14 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 9 2008 5:51PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number -- --
NTSB Number LAX08WA071A LAX08WA071B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire -- --
Aircraft Explosion -- --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper Robinson
Aircraft Model PA-18 R44
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number -- --
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category Airplane Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No 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 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 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) Other Work Use Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board -- --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code -- --
Departure City Gascoyne Junc Gascoyne Junc
Departure State -- --
Departure Country AS AS
Departure Time 905 905
Departure Time Zone -- --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code -- --
Destination City -- --
Destination State -- --
Destination Country -- --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record May 9 2008 5:51PM May 9 2008 5:51PM
User who most recently changed record COOS COOS
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location -- --
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --