The ATSB has published a preliminary report from its ongoing investigation into the collision with terrain of a Reims F406 Caravan II aircraft near Oakey Airport, west of Brisbane.
The twin-turboprop aircraft impacted the ground about 2.6 km from the threshold of Oakey Airport's runway 14 on the afternoon of 20 July 2025 while being used for a multi-engine instrument proficiency check (IPC) flight.
On board the aircraft was a pilot undergoing assessment and an external flight examiner, with their planned route from Warwick Airport to Oakey Airport, then back to Warwick.
During an IPC, the pilot under assessment is required to demonstrate a range of specified standards including, for multi-engine operations, the satisfactory completion of a simulated one engine inoperative (OEI) departure and a simulated OEI approach.
"This preliminary report outlines information gathered so far in the ATSB investigation, but does not contain findings or analysis, which will be developed for publication in a final report," said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
The report details that at about 300 ft above ground level, while on approach for Oakey Airport, the aircraft was observed to commence a flat turn and yaw to the left, before it rolled left, pitched down, and impacted the ground in an open paddock.
The aircraft was destroyed in a post-impact fire, and both occupants were fatally injured.
"While the fire limited the extent to which ATSB investigators could identify any pre-impact defects, their on-site examinations accounted for all major aircraft components at the point of impact," Mr Mitchell explained.
"Subsequent inspections of the engines found no indication of pre-impact mechanical anomalies."
Evidence indicated that at the time of impact the left engine was rotating and the right engine was developing power.
"About 4 minutes before the accident, the aircraft commenced the approach and the pilot made a radio broadcast to advise they were established on the Oakey Airport runway 14 ILS (instrument landing system)," Mr Mitchell explained.
"About a minute later, flight tracking data showed the aircraft began to deviate slightly from the horizontal profile for the approach, and later descended below the glideslope on two occasions. The aircraft's groundspeed then began to decay, reducing to 85 kt, before the accident occurred."
Recorded weather at Oakey at the time of the accident was clear, with a light southerly breeze of 6 kt.
The aircraft operator's Head of Flying Operations recalled that the external flight examiner had in the past for IPCs typically conducted the required simulated engine failure departure after take-off from Warwick Airport and the simulated engine failure approach at Oakey Airport, the preliminary report notes.
"As the investigation progresses, it will include an examination of the recent history of both pilots, operational procedures and documentation, and of the requirements for conducting simulated one engine inoperative exercises at low heights," Mr Mitchell explained.
"We will also continue to examine the aircraft's propellers and its maintenance history, conduct further interviews, and continue our analysis of flight data and air traffic surveillance data."
A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
"In the meantime, should the ATSB identify a critical safety issue as the investigation progresses, we will immediately notify relevant parties so they can take appropriate safety actions."
You can find here the preliminary report: Collision with terrain involving Reims Aviation F406, VH-EYQ, 3 km from Oakey Airport, Queensland, on 20 July 2025
