Deceased
Robert John Baxter
Demographics
26y, male
Date of death
2001-02-04
Finding date
2003-03-21
Cause of death
Multiple injuries sustained in aircraft accident - Cessna 210 stall and loss of control at low altitude
AI-generated summary
Robert John Baxter, aged 26, died in a Cessna 210 aircraft crash on 4 February 2001 near Gapuwiyak airstrip, Arnhem Land. The pilot took control of an unfamiliar aircraft without conducting a pre-flight inspection and attempted a steep aerobatic manoeuvre for which he was untrained. The aircraft stalled at approximately 400-500 feet and descended almost vertically, striking the ground at high speed. While a potentially defective stall-warning device was discussed, no direct evidence proved it non-functional, and recovery would have been impossible regardless. The coroner identified systemic issues: a 'cowboy culture' of unauthorised low-flying and aerobatics among young pilots, inadequate oversight by Air Frontier management, and failure of the pilot to conduct proper pre-flight checks or refuse an unfamiliar aircraft handover. Key lessons include the critical importance of pre-flight inspections, pilot training limitations, aircraft certification, and management oversight in charter operations.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Error types
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Source and disclaimer
This page reproduces or summarises information from publicly available findings published by Australian coroners' courts. Coronial is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any coronial court or government body.
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