An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has revealed the pilot of a helicopter that plunged into the sea off Port Stephens, killing everyone on board, was not trained to fly at night.
The ATSB has released a report into the cause of the crash during a flight from Brisbane to Sydney on September 6, 2019.
It found that pilot David Kerr was only certified to fly during the day and had little experience navigating in dark conditions.
The helicopter was carrying fellow Queenslanders Jamie Ogden and Grant Kuhnemann, and married Sydney couple Jocelyn Villanueva and Gregory Milleron.
They stopped to refuel in Coffs Harbour, before the pilot became disoriented and lost control around 6pm while flying past Anna Bay.
"The pilot continued to fly after last light without the appropriate training and qualifications, and then into dark night conditions that provided no visual cues," ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood said.
Mr Kerr told Williamtown air traffic controllers he was experiencing some turbulence before the helicopter disappeared from the tracking radar.
It took about three weeks for emergency authorities and police divers to locate the crash site, about 5 kilometres offshore, where human remains and debris were found.
Pilot lost in dark
The ATSB report says Mr Kerr should have landed before last light but that he may have been under time pressure to get to Sydney.
His helicopter also was not equipped to fly at night, and the flight path shows it made a rapidly descending left turn before it collided with the water.
Mr Hood said pilots with little experience flying in dark conditions could lose control within minutes.
He recommended day pilots make a diversion or pre-cautionary landing if the light was fading.
"Air traffic control may be able to provide assistance with available landing options," he said.
