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The ATSB has released a preliminary report as its investigation into January’s fatal Rottnest Island seaplane crash continues.
The report details the events of the crash and the subsequent escape by four passengers on board the Cessna Caravan VH-WTY, which was registered to Swan River Seaplanes, after it hit the water off Thomson Bay on 7 January. Two other passengers, as well as the pilot, were killed.
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According to the ATSB, the plane took off at about 4pm on an easterly track towards Phillip Rock at the southern end of the bay.
“About 32 seconds later and 600 m from the start of the take-off run, the aircraft became airborne with a high nose attitude, before it rolled rapidly to the left and impacted the water,” the safety watchdog wrote.
“Immediately after the collision, the aircraft remained partially afloat, and four surviving passengers moved into a small pocket of air in the rear of the cabin. One passenger opened the top part of the rear right door, through which they and one other passenger escaped.
“Another passenger was rescued by a witness, who broke the rear left cabin window and pulled the passenger out of the aircraft, while the fourth passenger also escaped through the window.”
ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell noted that the pilot of the incident flight had exchanged texts with Swan River Seaplanes’ chief pilot regarding air and sea conditions in the area.
“This included a forecast noting strong and gusting winds, and consideration of an early return to South Perth,” he said.
“The pilot then boarded a small boat to assess conditions in Thomson Bay, and subsequently elected for a take-off in a different direction to take-offs conducted on prior trips.”
The ATSB noted that the wreckage showed no evidence of the plane having hit an underwater landmass or object, while the engine did not appear to have sustained any damage before the accident.
“The engine will be subject to a tear down by the manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada, the results of which will be provided to the investigation, and we will also continue our analysis of the aircraft’s recorded flight data,” Mitchell said.
“The investigation will include analysis of flight data from previous flights, and will seek to understand the handling of the aircraft, particularly in the context of the conditions in Thomson Bay on the afternoon of the accident.
“The investigation will consider the information the pilot had access to for assessing these conditions, and the procedures and other risk controls used by the operator for assessing and planning take-offs from Thomson Bay.
“We will also consider the system used by the operator to identify and analyse the risks associated with operating from this location, and the approvals for floatplane operations.”
The maintenance history of VH-WTY, which had entered service with Swan River Seaplanes on 2 January after being in storage since March 2024, will also be examined, Mitchell said.
“The investigation will seek to uncover and identify systemic safety risk factors. Should any critical risks be identified, we will immediately notify relevant parties so they can take safety action.”
The previous aircraft to have used the VH-WTY registration, another Cessna 208 Caravan seaplane, was destroyed in a crash near Hamilton Island in 2016, though all 11 passengers and the pilot escaped safely.
