Cessna 188 accident near Geraldton Aerodrome, Australia, Au, September 14, 2010
On September 14, 2010 at about 7:45 am local time, a Cessna 188, registered VHKZF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Geraldton Aerodrome, Australia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
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
- September 14, 2010 · about 7:45 am local time
- Place
- Geraldton Aerodrome, Australia, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 188 UNDESIGNAT · all 188s on the register
- Registration
- VHKZF · no longer on the register · serial 18803279T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 14, 2010, at 0745 universal coordinated time, a Cessna 188 Agwagon, VH-KZF, collided with terrain during takeoff for an aerial application flight near Geraldton Aerodrome, Australia. The airplane was operated by Prestige Helicopters PTY LTD. The pilot was killed and the airplane substantially damaged. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Australia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Australia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Tel: +612 6274 6054 Fax: +612 6274 6434
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
- Operator: Prestige Helicopters PTY LTD
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.