Mallard down - Two killed in Australia - Curt Lewis

Grumman G-73 Mallard Impact With Water (Australia)

Status:	Preliminary
Date:	Thursday 26 January 2017
Time:	17:03
Type:	Grumman G-73 Mallard
Operator:	private
Registration:	VH-CQA
C/n / msn:	J-35
First flight:	1948
Crew:	Fatalities: / Occupants:
Passengers:	Fatalities: / Occupants:
Total:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Airplane damage:	Damaged beyond repair
Location:	Swan River, Perth, WA (   Australia)
Phase:	Maneuvering (MNV)
Nature:	Demonstration
Departure airport:	Serpentine Airport (YSEN), Australia
Destination airport:	?

Narrative:
A Grumman G-73 Mallard flying boat was destroyed when it impacted the water of Swan River in Perth, Australia. Both occupants suffered fatal injuries.
The aircraft was flying a display during the Australia Day City of Perth Air Show 2017. It departed Serpentine Airport at 16:28 and proceeded along the coast towards Perth. A holding pattern was flown to the east of Garden Island at an altitude of approximately 1600 feet, waiting to fly a display. At 16:50 it continued north towards Perth, flying down Swan River. It circled over the water until the aircraft lost altitude in a turn, impacting the water nose down. The aircraft broke up on impact.