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Britten-Norman BN-2A
Mk III-2 Trislander VH-EGU departed from Bankstown at 2029 hours on
16 December 1980 with freight for Essendon. At 2210 hours the pilot
transmitted a Pan call stating that he had lost altitude in severe turbulence
and requesting vectors for terrain avoidance. Less than a minute later
the final transmission from the pilot advised that he had selected the
emergency code on his transponder. The Distress phase was declared at
2213 hours. Bell UH-1H A2-310 and three other RAAF Iroquois along with
three civilian light aircraft conducted a search and the wreckage of
VH-EGU was located the following afternoon on the slopes of Mount Hovell,
15km south-east of Tumut. The pilot and passenger received fatal injuries.
The aircraft was photographed at Bankstown on 7 August 1978. Note that
this Trislander was fitted with underwing fuel tanks. (Historical notes
from BASI Report SI/802/1075). QUEENSLAND
AIR MUSEUM |
Picture:
Chris O'Neill