Maroochy air crash
 wreckage of A20-212 | |
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 December 1950 |
| Summary | Beach air crash |
| Site | Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | CAC Wirraway |
| Operator | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Registration | A20-212 |
| Flight origin | Redcliffe, Queensland |
| Destination | Noosa, Queensland |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 2 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 3 |
| Ground injuries | 14 |
The Maroochy air crash was an aircraft accident that occurred at 11.10am on 30 December 1950 at Maroochydore beach, Queensland, Australia. Three children were killed and fourteen others were seriously injured as a result of the accident.[1][2]
CAC Wirraway Serial Number A20-212 of the Royal Australian Air Force had been circling between Maroochydore and Alexandra Headland during a routine shark patrol when it suddenly banked steeply and crashed onto the crowded beach in front of the Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club. The pilot and his observer survived the crash.[3][4]
Cause
[edit]Two coronial inquiries failed to attribute any blame for the crash. In 2013, a Queensland coroner overturned the findings of previous inquiries and ruled it was pilot error that caused the crash, siting his use of an unsuitable aircraft, which was known to stall at low speeds, and lack of training in surf patrol duties.[5]
Memorials
[edit]On 9 March 2013, a 2.4-metre 'Maroochy Air Crash Memorial' was erected at the site in memory of those killed and injured.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Patrick Williams (29 December 2010). "Site marks plane crash". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "3 die in beach crash". The Sunday Mail. 31 December 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Deaths at Maroochy". Brisbane Telegraph. 30 December 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Plane crashes into crowd on beach". The Sunday Herald. 31 December 1950. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ Marissa Calligeros (6 November 2013). "1950 Maroochydore beach plane crash: Pilot error blamed for deaths". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ Mark Bode (31 December 2010). "Shirley remembers losing brother". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- Memorial details
- Sunshine Coast set to have memorial to RAAF aircraft Wirraway after plane crash 60 years ago
- Shirley remembers day she lost young brother (Graham Blair)
- Headstone for Pauline Probert, located in old Nambour Cemetery
- Photo of Liam O'Connor on a camping holiday at Maroochydore, December 1950
- Map of location of air crash
- Marked image of aircraft flight path to beach from The Sunday Mail on 31 December 1950