ENG10RA022

Factual narrative

On 22 March 2010, at 1009 Central Standard Time, an Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica EMB-120ER Brasilia with two crew, prepared to take off on a training flight from runway 29 at Darwin Aerodrome, Northern Territory. The crew were the only occupants. The training captain advised the aerodrome controller that the departure would incorporate asymmetric flight (simulated engine failure) and was approved by the controller to perform the manoeuvre. After becoming airborne, witnesses reported seeing the aircraft roll and diverge left from its take-off path. They watched as the aircraft continued rolling left, and entered a steep nose-down attitude. It disappeared into trees, south of the runway threshold from where a column of black smoke was seen shortly afterwards. Aerodrome rescue and fire fighting services were in attendance very shortly thereafter and extinguished the fire. Both pilots were fatally injured and the aircraft was seriously damaged due to impact forces and an intense post-impact fire. The aircraft was equipped with two Pratt and Whitney Canada model PW118A gas turbine engines, each rated at 1,800 shaft horsepower and driving, through a reduction gearbox, a four-bladed Hamilton Standard constant speed, full-feathering, reversing propeller. The propeller blades were of composite construction. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Australia. Further information pertaining to this incident may be obtained on their web site at www.atsb.gov.au. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information obtained for, or released by, the ATSB. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12