[Peetwo]

An aircraft crashed into the Swan River, Perth..

A PLANE has crashed into the Swan River hours before the annual Australia Day Skyworks show is due to kick off.

The incident happened just after 5pm.

It is unclear whether the crash will affect the Skyworks show, which was due to start at 8pm.

More to come.

Further Update.

Again courtesy ABC online  :

Australia Day Perth plane crash: Special approval given to air show, CASA says
By Rebecca Turner

Posted 9 minutes ago Fri 27 Jan 2017, 6:36pmvideos

Video: Plane crashes into Swan River during Australia Day air show (ABC News)

As the search for answers continues over a fatal plane crash on Perth's Swan River, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has revealed it does not usually approve air displays over public gatherings or boats on the water.

Key points:

• Cause of fatal plane crash during Australia Day air show in Perth remains unclear
  
• CASA approved all aircraft and pilots as part of regulation of event
  
• Sea plane described as "extremely good machine" by vintage plane expert
  

But the regulatory body said it gave special approval for Thursday's Australia Day air show, during which mining executive Peter Lynch and his colleague and partner Endah Cakrawati plunged to their death in their seaplane.

Their tragic descent was witnessed by thousands of onlookers gathered on the banks of the river and on boats moored nearby.

"Under the regulations, except during take-off and landing, or where specifically approved as part of the program of events, the minimum height at which any aircraft may operate is 500 feet above ground level," a CASA spokeswoman said in a statement.

"Air displays over built-up [suburban] areas, public gatherings and vessels on the surface of a body of water are not normally approved.

"These rules ensure the safety of the public and those involved in the flying display."

Photo: It remains unclear what caused the sea plane to plunge into the water before thousands of onlookers. (Supplied: Michael Legg)

The crash has left aviation experts scratching their heads over the cause.

The show is organised by the City of Perth and regulated by CASA, which has to approve all participating aircraft and pilots.

Passengers are not allowed to be on board, although each pilot is allowed to carry an observer.

Plane an 'extremely good' machine: expert

Aero Club of WA chief executive David Currey said it was the first accident in the history of the air show — with the biggest event on the WA aviation calendar taking a year to organise and choreographed down to the last second.

"CASA put a lot of time and effort into doing their due diligence," he said.

"It was very, very unlucky."

According to vintage plane expert Rob Poynton, the model of plane flown by Mr Lynch — a 1948 Grumman G-73 Mallard — was an "extremely good" machine.
"Just because it's old and used, doesn't mean anything," he said.
"As long as it's had the required maintenance, it's fine."

Pilot spoke about work done on plane

Mr Lynch first started flying about 25 years ago.

Photo: Tributes have been paid to pilot Peter Lynch and his girlfriend Endah Cakrawati, who died in the crash. (Supplied: Halden Boyd)

As he explained to Sydney aviation journalist Phil Buckley in 2013, he bought the airplane in the US in 2011 before undertaking significant flying training and maintenance work with the aircraft.

"The aircraft was in Northern Idaho and I had it ferried to Florida via Covingtion Aircraft in Oklahoma on the way, to get both engines and props fully overhauled," he said.

"It had some work and avionics done in Florida to finish it off before it had to be ferried to Australia."

The Australian Transport and Aviation Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash but has indicated it could take a year to complete, potentially leaving the future of the air show in limbo.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the format of the Australia Day event would be reviewed for future years, but the Skyworks show would continue in "some form or another".

RIP..

Further Update: The Plot Thickens

Here we go -  Are we about to witness a classic case of CASA subverting safety risk mitigation in favour of (CYA) liability risk mitigation?? 

Observe the following update this evening via WA Today:

January 27 2017 - 5:54PM

Perth Skyshow plane tragedy probe a logistical nightmare

David Allan-Petale

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority says the plane that crashed into the Swan River during the Perth Skyshow on Thursday was not approved to fly below 500 feet.

Pilot Peter Lynch and his passenger and partner Endah Cakrawati died when the plane crashed into the Swan River during the City of Perth's annual Australia Day event.

Two people have died after a plane crashed into Perth's Swan River in front of thousands of people gathered for the Australia Day Skyworks display. Vision courtesy Seven News.

The seaplane stalled and nose-dived into the water about 5pm, breaking up on impact, as revellers looked on in horror.

In a statement to WAtoday, CASA said Mr Lynch's aircraft was operating as part of an approved air display, which was given special permission to operate.

Mr Lynch was a keen aviation enthusiast.

Swan River plane crash at Perth Skyshow: Tributes for victims Peter Lynch, Endah Cakrawati

Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Brown paid tribute to the victims and praised emergency services.

Swan River plane crash: investigations begin, skyshow will not be rescheduled


"All aircraft operating as part of the air display sought and received approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to do so," CASA said in the statement.

"Under the regulations, except during take-off and landing, or where specifically approved as part of the program of events, the minimum height at which any aircraft may operate is 500 feet above ground level.

"Air displays over built up (suburban) areas, public gatherings and vessels on the surface of a body of water are not normally approved."

Investigators are working to determine what led to the plane crashing, with two efforts running simultaneously - one spearheaded by WA police and another being coordinated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

Safety authorites will inspect the plane on Friday, which is still in the Swan River. Photo: Channel 7

Police will concentrate on determining the cause of death while the ATSB will look at air safety and technical issues, though both investigations will overlap.

ATSB investigators are currently at the crash site and will spend the next few days examining the scene, interviewing witnesses, and collecting maintenance and pilot records and air traffic control data.

The recovery operation has begun. Photo: 9 News Perth

A recovery operation is now underway - footage from 9 News Perth shows workers on a barge using a crane to secure larger parts of the wreckage, with divers in the water.

Aviation investigations manager Greg Madden said on Friday the plane, which is under guard by a police vessel, is of an aircraft type that didn't appear to have a history of faults.

"We'll be certainly looking closely at the aircraft history but at this stage, there's nothing to indicate that there's a problem with the aircraft," Mr Madden told ABC radio.

He said the model was not required to have a flight data or cockpit voice recorder, but other recording devices may be on board. A preliminary update on the investigation is expected to be uploaded to the ATSB website in about 30 days.


Endah Cakrawati, 30, and pilot Peter Lynch died after the plane crashed into the Swan River. 

The Grumman Mallard is a medium sized, twin-engined amphibious aircraft that was manufactured in the United States from 1946 to 1951.

It's still widely in use around the world, with Australia's Paspaley Group running a fleet of turbo-prop equipped Mallards, servicing the pearl farms which are at the core of its operations.

On its website, Paspaly said it has "an excellent safety record."

The bodies of Mr Lynch, 52, and his female passenger Ms Aricakrawati, 30, have been recovered from the Swan River, while the aircraft itself remains in situ in the water with investigators analysing the wreckage.

Various aviation sources say the Grumman Mallard can weigh around four tonnes, and acting Commissioner Brown said extracting the crashed aircraft from the middle of the Swan River will be a huge logistical exercise.

"There would be a lot of work to do on the remains of the plane and it could take up to six months for the results to be known," acting Commissioner Stephen Brown told Radio 6PR on Friday.

"We want it to come out as pristine as it can and we want to be able to recover all of the parts. And they might not just be in that immediate vicinity so that's going to take some time."

Acting Commissioner Brown said once the plane has been extracted from the water, comprehensive investigations could then begin at either a police or ATSB facility in Perth.

"That'll be conversations between our police forensic officers and the ATSB as to where the best place to house it is. And then we'll start that meticulous job of working through the wreckage," he said.

On its website, the Bureau lists the fatal incident as having an 'occurance type' of 'collision with terrain' with the aircraft listed as destroyed.

The ATSB is seeking to speak with witnesses and collect any video recordings that might assist its work.

Those who witnessed the crash in person requested to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616 or email ATSBinfo@atsb.gov.au.

A final report on the incident from the ATSB is expected to be published within 12 months.

 
Hmm...no comment - YET!

MTF...P2