It Is Believed That A Passenger May Have Accidentally Knocked The Pilot Unconscious

An accident involving a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver which went down on New Year's Eve in 2017 in Australia may have been caused when one of the passengers accidentally knocked the pilot unconscious.

FStoppers reports that, according to the ATSB, the plane went down mid-afternoon in Jerusalem Bay in Sydney Harbor, resulting in the fatal injury of the pilot and all five passengers, According to the board's factual report published last December, all flight control surfaces and controls were in working order and in their proper positions, and witnesses did not mention anything out of the ordinary about the sound of the engine.

One of the owners of  Sydney Seaplanes, Jerry Schwartz, said that it is his theory that the passenger in the front seat of the Beaver struck the pilot in the head with an elbow while turning to get a photograph. He bases his theory on the ATSB's finding that the plane made a "totally inexplicable" steep right turn that was not consistent with his skill level.

There was a camera recovered at the accident scene, and part of the theory is based on the photos taken from the camera.

(Image from ASTB factual report)

FMI: www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2017/aair/ao-2017-118/