Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV crash, Mar 9, 1994 (1 killed)
Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV accident on March 9, 1994 near Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia with 1 fatality. Cause: The pilot made a visual...
- Date: March 9, 1994
- Aircraft: Swearingen SA226AT Merlin IV
- Location: Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The pilot made a visual approach in weather unsuitable for it, flew below the lowest safe altitude in poor visibility, and had not previously flown the route.
A freight Merlin flying from Armidale to Tamworth was flown visually at low altitude into cloud-covered mountains northeast of Tamworth. The aircraft struck the terrain and burned, killing the pilot. The pilot had continued below the published lowest safe altitude in poor visibility on a route he had not flown before.