What happened
On Saturday, October 26, 2024, a Jabiru UL-450 registered 19-4079 and a Cessna 182 Skylane collided in mid-air over Belimbla Park, east of Oakdale, New South Wales. The collision resulted in the deaths of all three occupants: one person in the Jabiru and two in the Cessna. Both aircraft were destroyed.
At approximately 11:50 am local time, the Jabiru, with a single occupant, had recently departed from The Oaks airfield. The Cessna 182, carrying two people, was en route from Cessnock to Wollongong. The two aircraft collided in uncontrolled airspace where pilots are responsible for maintaining visual separation from other traffic. Witnesses reported seeing debris falling from the sky moments before impact.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the collision to determine the cause and contributing factors. The investigation will include examination of the wreckage, witness interviews, and analysis of any available flight data.