What happened
On 29 October 2026, a Cessna 337 crashed during a post-maintenance test flight from Thurloo Downs in north-western New South Wales. ABC News reported, based on information from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), that the aircraft collided with the ground and caught fire. The pilot and sole occupant, a man believed to be in his 60s, died at the scene.
NSW Police said emergency services were called at about 1:30 pm after reports of a crash at an airstrip in the Wanaaring area. This was the call-out time, not a confirmed crash time. Police established a crime scene and said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Although police initially said the ATSB was investigating, the bureau subsequently decided not to conduct an investigation after assessing the circumstances. Police inquiries were ongoing when ABC News reported the update on 2 November 2026. The aircraft registration and cause have not been confirmed in the available reporting.