Mid-Air Collision – Jabiru UL-450 and Cessna 182 near Oakdale, New South Wales, Australia – October 26, 2024

Date:

October 26, 2024

Time:

c. 11:50 LT

Type of Aircraft:

Jabiru UL-450

Owner/Operator:

Private

Registration:

19-4079

MSN:

572

Fatalities:

1 / Occupants: 1

Other Fatalities:

2 (from the other aircraft involved in the collision)

Aircraft Damage:

Destroyed

Location:

Belimbla Park, East of Oakdale, NSW – Australia

Phase:

En route

Nature:

Private

Circumstances:

A Jabiru UL-450 was involved in a fatal mid-air collision with a Cessna 182 Skylane over Belimbla Park, east of Oakdale, New South Wales. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of all three occupants of both aircraft.

The Cessna 182 was en route from Cessnock to Wollongong with two people on board, while the Jabiru, with a single occupant, had taken off from a nearby airfield at The Oaks. The collision occurred in uncontrolled airspace, where pilots are responsible for maintaining separation from other aircraft.

Witnesses reported seeing debris falling from the sky before the two aircraft crashed in bushland about 1 kilometer apart. One of the planes caught fire upon impact, while the other was found a short distance away.

Emergency services, including ambulance crews, police, and fire crews, rushed to the scene but were unable to save the occupants. The crash sites were described as “not survivable.”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the collision to determine the cause and contributing factors. This will involve examining the wreckage, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing any available flight data.  

This tragic accident highlights the importance of vigilance and situational awareness in uncontrolled airspace, where pilots rely on visual observation and communication to maintain safe separation from other aircraft.