Preliminary report finds Qld charter flight struck tree near runway before crashing into croc-infested waters

A preliminary report into a fatal charter flight that crashed in Queensland’s crocodile-infested Gulf Country, killing the sole occupant, has found the light plane struck a tree less than a kilometre from the runway. Pilot Thomas Niit, 32, was killed and his King Air twin turboprop destroyed when the Machjet International-operated aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Normanton airport, about 700km west of Cairns, on February 6. The crash sparked a treacherous rescue mission by emergency services, who faced floodwaters in known crocodile territory. A preliminary report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on Thursday found the aircraft climbed to a maximum of about 150ft above ground after takeoff, before descending and colliding with a tree about 360m from the end of the runway. At the time of the plane’s last Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast datapoint, about 10m before the crash, the aircraft was travelling at a land speed of about 300km, having descended at 1100ft per minute, or 20km per hour. Mr Niit had earlier ferried four passengers from Cairns to Doomadgee earlier that day, before returning to Normanton. The pilot was preparing to return back to Cairns shortly after 7.45PM, with the ATSB having so far probed the accident site and wreckage, available flight data and pilot records, and weather information. Further interviews will be conducted, and potential additional analysis of video, photographs, and airport data, before the final report is released. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the preliminary report did not contain any findings. “Evidence indicates the aircraft impacted the ground in a wings-level attitude and slid beneath powerlines, then commenced a gradual yaw to the right, impacting trees, and breaking up in the process, before coming to rest in floodwaters about 580m beyond the runway’s end,” he said. “As the investigation progresses it will include an assessment of data from air traffic control, the Bureau of Meteorology, and equipment recovered from the aircraft. “Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will notify relevant parties immediately, so timely safety action can be taken.”