Cessna 404 accident near Lockhart River, Au, March 11, 2020
On March 11, 2020 at about 9:44 am local time, a Cessna 404, registered VHOZO, was destroyed in an accident during landing near Lockhart River. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 5 people were 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
- March 11, 2020 · about 9:44 am local time
- Place
- Lockhart River, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 404 No Series · all 404s on the register
- Registration
- VHOZO · no longer on the register · serial 404-0653
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The government of Australia has notified the NTSB of an accident involving a Cessna 404 airplane that occurred on March 11, 2020. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Australia's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13.All investigative information will be released by the government of Australia.
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 landing defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,400 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Cairns
- Destination: Lockhart River
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.