Inquest into Anna Bay Helicopter Crash

Unknown·Multiple injuries sustained in helicopter crash

A Bell UH-1H helicopter carrying five people crashed into the ocean near Anna Bay, NSW on 6 September 2019, killing all aboard. Pilot David Kerr continued flying after last light without night flight qualifications in a helicopter not equipped for night flying. The coroner found the crash resulted from pilot spatial disorientation caused by loss of visual reference in darkness. Contributing factors included severe weather with strong turbulence and reduced visibility, inadequate planning, and the pilot's failure to divert or land at Coffs Harbour despite worsening conditions. The pilot had also failed to disclose psychiatric treatment and prescribed medications (Naltrexone, Diazepam, Valdoxan, Olanzapine) to his aviation medical examiner, though these were found not to have contributed to the crash. All five deaths—Gregory Miller, Grant Kuhnemann, Jocelyn Villanueva, David John Kerr, and Jamie Ogden—resulted from multiple injuries sustained in the crash, ruled misadventure. No recommendations were made.