The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its preliminary report into the January 7 Rottnest Island seaplane crash, revealing new details about the final moments of the flight and the ongoing investigation.
The report confirms that the Cessna 208 Caravan Amphibian (VH-WTY) began the day with pilot James Wong, 34, and 10 passengers. However, on the returning flight from Rottnest Island to Perth, only six passengers remained on board.
Thirty-two seconds into take-off, the aircraft became airborne with a high nose altitute near Phillip Rock before rolling sharply to the left and crashing into the water moments later.
Survivors and witnesses described the aircraft remaining partially afloat, with the nose resting on the seabed.
Four passengers managed to escape through a rear door air pocket, while another was helped out by a passing vessel. This became crucial to their survival.
The pilot and two passengers were unable to escape, and their bodies were recovered by Western Australia Police divers later that evening.
“Video footage from WA Police divers for the recovery of the deceased occupants showed that the left (pilot) crew door was in the LATCHED position and the right crew door was in the LATCHED position,” the report said.
ATSB testing did confirm they were functional.
Cessna 208 seating plan showing the occupant location for those who survived (green) and those who sustained fatal injuries (red). Source: Supplied / ATSB
Investigators have since examined the wreckage, reviewed flight data, and analysed video footage, including witness recordings and CCTV.
The ATSB is expected to address media later this afternoon.
The tragic crash
The crash, which occurred off the coast of Rottnest Island, killed Wong, a 65-year-old female Swiss tourist, and a 60-year-old male Danish tourist.
The aircraft, which had taken off from Thomson Bay at 4pm, veered dangerously close to Phillip Rock before impact, travelling at a ground speed of 63 knots (117km/h).
The tragedy also left four others injured — the partners of the deceased tourists and a WA couple, who were all on board.
Survivors speak out
A week later, Jeremy and Patricia Connor, the sole surviving couple in their 60s, broke their silence, releasing a statement expressing their deepest sympathies to the victims’ families.
They also paid tribute to Wong, crediting his detailed pre-flight safety briefing as the reason they survived.
Wong’s emergency exit instructions had been crucial in their escape, and they extended their gratitude to rescuers, emergency personnel, and authorities, a sentiment echoed by the WA Premier Roger Cook at the time.
Police divers worked overnight in the 8-meter-deep waters to recover the victims, a task Police Minister Paul Papalia described as “difficult and confronting”.
The recovery process
The aircraft had been in operation since September 2016, brought to Perth on December 29, and had only begun flying in Rottnest seven days before the tragedy.
Following the crash, an extensive ATSB investigation was launched, examining maintenance records, operational history, and potential human error.
WA Police investigators walking to a police boat on Rottnest Island the day after the tragic crash. An exclusion zone was initially set up as part of the investigation. Source: AAP / Aaron Bunch
Wreckage and flight data obtained from Cessna were carefully analysed, with key components flown to Canberra for further examination.
Authorities also gathered video footage and witness statements from the hundreds of onlookers who witnessed the crash—an investigation comparable in scale to the Gold Coast’s Dreamworld tragedy.
The ATSB has stated the investigation remains ongoing, with further analysis to include engine performance, weather conditions, pilot training records, and regulatory oversight.
A final report, including findings and safety recommendations, will be released at a later date.
