Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Jul 8, 2005 (3 killed)
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on July 8, 2005 near Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia with 3 fatalities. Cause: Controlled flight into...
- Date: July 8, 2005
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: Mount Hotham, Victoria, Australia
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Controlled flight into terrain. The pilot continued into forecast and known icing in an aircraft not approved for icing, did not comply with the instrument approach procedure, and flew at an altitude that did not ensure terrain clearance.
A Piper Navajo Chieftain on a charter from Essendon to Mount Hotham was flown into forecast icing and low cloud in extreme weather. The pilot did not follow the instrument approach procedure and struck a snow-covered ridge about 200 ft below the aerodrome in level flight. The aircraft burned and the pilot and two passengers were killed.