A preliminary report indicates a fatal plane crash in the Gulf of Carpentaria earlier this year followed the aircraft coming down quickly after take-off and striking a tree, before crashing in crocodile-infested floodwaters.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its preliminary report into the fatal incident near Normanton this morning.
The solo pilot crashed on the evening of February 6, 2026, 800 metres west of Normanton Airport.
He was found dead in the rugged marsh two days later on February 8.
The 32-year-old male from Clifton Beach in Cairns was flying a Machjet International Beechcraft King Air B200.
After boarding four passengers in Normanton, the pilot flew to Doomadgee, about 240 kilometres to the west, before returning them to Normanton about four hours later.
The ATSB report found that after taking off from runway 32, the aircraft climbed to a maximum of about 46 metres above ground level before descending and colliding with terrain.
The aircraft was destroyed.
Days later, police officers carrying rifles guarded their colleagues who recovered the body in knee-deep water, surrounded by difficult terrain.
ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said investigators had examined the accident site and wreckage, conducted interviews, gathered available flight data, pilot records and weather information.
An aircraft came down 800 metres west of Normanton airport. (Supplied)
“Evidence indicates the aircraft … impacted the ground in a wings-level attitude and slid beneath powerlines, then commenced a gradual yaw to the right, impacting trees, and breaking up in the process, before coming to rest in floodwaters about 580m beyond the runway’s end,” Mr Mitchell said.
Mr Mitchell noted the preliminary report includes a summary of the available forecast and observed meteorological conditions at the aerodrome, and in the surrounding area, at the time of the accident.
“As the investigation progresses it will include an assessment of data from air traffic control, the Bureau of Meteorology, and equipment recovered from the aircraft,” he said.
“Investigators will also conduct further interviews, and analyse witness videos, photographs and airport data, along with all relevant operational information.”
A final report will be released at the end of the investigation.