WA Seaplane Crash: Years Since Last Flight Revealed

A seaplane that crashed off Rottnest Island, Australia, killing three people, had been grounded for years before being returned to service a month before the incident. The Cessna 208 Caravan 675 went down shortly after takeoff on January 7, carrying seven people.

Seaplane Crash Investigation Reveals Extended Period of Inactivity

Pilot James Wong, 34, a Swiss woman, and a Danish man died in the crash, while four other passengers survived. An interim report released Friday by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) detailed the events but did not determine a cause.

Maintenance records show the aircraft was not flown for extended periods from June 2021 until it was leased and operated by Swan River Seaplanes in late December 2024. The seaplane was inactive for all but 12 days out of 1277.

Investigators found no evidence the engine was maintained according to manufacturer specifications during this time, except in the final months before it resumed service.

The aircraft’s manual requires engine oil to be drained and other preservation actions after 90 days of inactivity, unless the engine is run weekly.

Details of the Failed Takeoff

The report also details the takeoff attempt, noting the plane hit waves before becoming airborne and then collided with the water seconds later.

“The aircraft accelerated along the water in a strong crosswind and a light tailwind, and as it passed Phillip Rock, it encountered sea swell and chop,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

The seaplane rolled to the left when it was 4 meters (approximately 13 feet) above sea level. The left wing struck the water, followed by the fuselage and the rest of the aircraft. The wreckage settled on the seafloor, partially submerged.

Survivors escaped the wreckage – two with serious injuries – after a coxswain from a tender boat broke a window.

A coroner determined Wong and one passenger drowned, while another passenger drowned with a head injury.

The ongoing investigation will review the pilot’s assessment of conditions on the day, including the decision to take off in an unusual direction. Investigators will also examine whether Wong disconnected the aircraft’s stall warning system circuit breaker before takeoff.

Passenger video did not capture any stall warning sounds during the takeoff run, and the circuit breaker was found disconnected after the accident. While the Cessna handbook instructs pilots to keep all circuit breakers engaged before flight, some pilots have reportedly disconnected the stall warning system due to false alarms during water takeoffs.

Investigators are also examining the crashworthiness of the Cessna Caravan and the suitability of the manufacturer and operator’s emergency equipment and procedures for accidents involving water.