Aerospatiale AS355 accident near Marree, Australia, Au, August 18, 2011
On August 18, 2011 at about 10:08 am local time, a Aerospatiale AS355 (helicopter), registered VHNTV, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Marree, Australia. It was an other work-use flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. 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
- August 18, 2011 · about 10:08 am local time
- Place
- Marree, Australia, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS355 F2 · all AS355s on the register
- Registration
- VHNTV · no longer on the register · serial 5380
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 18, 2011, at 1008 universal coordinated time, an Aerospatiale AS 355F2, VH-NTV, operated by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, collided with terrain shortly after takeoff near Marree, Australia. The helicopter was substantially damaged and consumed by a postaccident fire. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight was operated under the pertinent civil regulations of Australia. 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 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 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: Allison (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Australian Broadcasting Corp
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.