Inquest into the death of Kathryn Anne SHEPPARD
Deceased
Kathryn Anne Sheppard
Demographics
48y, female
Date of death
2010-06-15
Finding date
2015-08-14
Cause of death
head injuries in combination with the effects of fire sustained when the aircraft suffered engine failure and impacted with the ground and became engulfed in flames
AI-generated summary
Kathryn Anne Sheppard, aged 48, died in a light aircraft accident on 15 June 2010 when the aircraft she was travelling in as a passenger suffered engine failure during flight and crashed, resulting in head injuries and fatal burn injuries. The coroner found that the cause of death was head injuries in combination with fire effects following the engine failure and ground impact. The findings highlight the importance of proper guidance material for multi-engine aircraft operations and training regarding engine failure procedures. The coroner made recommendations to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to finalise guidance material for operations and training standards, and to develop legislative proposals enabling CASA to compel attendance at sworn interviews when aviation safety risks are identified. This case underscores the critical need for standardised training protocols and safety procedures in aviation operations to prevent similar catastrophic outcomes.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- aircraft engine failure
- lack of finalised guidance material for multi-engine aeroplane operations and training regarding engine failure in the cruise
Coroner's recommendations
- CASA to finalise the guidance material for CAAP 5.23 to be completed and released as soon as possible, providing guidance for multi-engine aeroplane operations and training to support flight standards relating to engine failure in the cruise
- CASA to undertake public consultations to develop a legislative proposal enabling CASA to compel the attendance of persons at compulsory sworn interviews to answer questions concerning aviation and safety measures where reasonable suspicion exists that a significant safety risk exists or existed in an aviation operation and evidence cannot be obtained in any other way
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