Piper PA-18 and Robinson R44 mid-air collision near Gascoyne Junc, Au, February 13, 2008
On February 13, 2008 at about 10:15 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-18 (VHOUS) and Robinson R44 (VHZDP), were involved in a mid-air collision near Gascoyne Junc. 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2008 · about 10:15 am local time
- Place
- Gascoyne Junc, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- VHOUS · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · non-U.S. private rules
- Aircraft 2
- Robinson R44 · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- VHZDP · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-18 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 13, 2008, about 1015 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Australian registration VH-OUS, and a Robinson helicopter R44, Australian registration VH-ZDP, collided in mid-air 54 kilometers northwest of Gascoyne Junction, Australia. The pilot and passenger of the Piper were killed. The pilot and passenger of the Robinson were not injured. The airplane and helicopter both sustained substantial damage. The flights were both goat-culling operations and departed from Gascoyne Junction about 0905. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Australian government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608 15 Mort St., Canberra City, Australian Capital Territory Telephone: +61 2 6274 6440 Fax: +61 2 6247 3117 Internet: www.atsb.gov.au
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Robinson R44 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 13, 2008, about 1015 coordinated universal time (UTC), a Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Australian registration VH-OUS, and a Robinson helicopter R44, Australian registration VH-ZDP, collided in mid-air 54 kilometers northwest of Gascoyne Junction, Australia. The pilot and passenger of the Piper were killed. The pilot and passenger of the Robinson were not injured. The airplane and helicopter both sustained substantial damage. The flights were both goat-culling operations and departed from Gascoyne Junction about 0905. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Australian government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608 15 Mort St., Canberra City, Australian Capital Territory Telephone: +61 2 6274 6440 Fax: +61 2 6247 3117 Internet: www.atsb.gov.au
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Piper PA-18 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Gascoyne Junc at 9:05 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Robinson R44 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Dunkeld Pastoral Co Pty Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: Gascoyne Junc at 9:05 am
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.