ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 311188
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| Date: | Thursday 20 April 2023 |
| Time: | c. 17:10 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-28-181 Archer II |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | VH-FEY |
| MSN: | 28-7690006 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1976 |
| Engine model: | Textron Lycoming O-360 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | in sea off Leighton Beach, North Fremantle, Perth, WA -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Carnarvon Airport, WA (CVQ/YCAR) |
| Jandakot Airport, WA (JAD/YPJT) | |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into the sea off Leighton Beach, North Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, after an engine power loss.
Both occupants survived the crash. The aircraft is damaged beyond repair after being totally submerged in sea water as well as suffering structural damage.
The pilot departed Carnarvon with sufficient fuel for the intended flight to Jandakot via Geraldton but did not carry out regular fuel quantity checks in accordance with regulatory guidance or keep a written log of the fuel consumed from each tank during the flight.
During cruise at 1,900 ft, engine power subsided to low power then returned to normal power. This occurred a number of times, probably because of a lack of usable fuel in the selected (right) tank.
The pilot responded to the engine power anomalies by carrying out some of the emergency procedures but did not select the other (left) tank, which contained usable fuel. Consequently, engine power was not restored and the pilot carried out a forced ditching into the ocean near a beach.
Prior to the first departure from Geraldton on the day of the occurrence, the pilot drained a significant amount of water from both fuel tanks (that had been refuelled to full the night before) and from the fuel strainer. The aircraft was subsequently operated for over 6.5 hrs with a refuelling at Carnarvon without any symptoms of fuel contamination and it is unlikely that there was a significant amount of water remaining in the fuel.
Sources:
https://thewest.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/four-people-forced-to-swim-to-shore-after-small-plane-crashes-at-leighton-beach-off-fremantle-c-10407086
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-20/two-people-to-safe-after-plane-crashes-in-sea-leighton/102249554
https://www.9news.com.au/national/plane-crashes-into-water-in-wa-two-passengers-survive/906cdab1-a8b6-435b-89cf-648481dddfa9
https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/aircraft-register?search_api_fulltext=FEY
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/25039_1625576718.jpg (photo)
audio: https://forums.liveatc.net/atcaviation-audio-clips/mother-and-son-forced-to-swim-to-shore-after-small-plane-crashes-at-leighton/?action=dlattach;attach=11728
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Media:
Wreckage of a light plane being removed from Leighton Beach this evening.
— alice angeloni (@aliceangeloni) April 21, 2023
Pilot and her 15-year-old son survived yesterday’s crash without injury. Absolute miracle.
Footage cred: mum
More details from @abcnews @CasonKYHo https://t.co/BZmb2YVDFf pic.twitter.com/KBM7Sbi23w
The moment a mother and son miraculously land a plane in the ocean off Leighton Beach has been caught by shocked witnesses.
— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) April 21, 2023
The quick-thinking and experienced pair managed to walk away unharmed after their light plane engine failed. #9News pic.twitter.com/cvPHnRWuWQ
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Nov-2023 09:00 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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