VH-LIH. SAAB 340B. c/n 316.

 

This aircraft was built by Saab Aircraft AB, Linkoping, Sweden - 1992

First flown with test registration 'SE-C16' - September 10, 1992

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-LIH - January 28, 1993

Registered to Hazelton Air Services Pty Ltd, Cudal, New South Wales

Cancelled from the Swedish Aircraft Register - February 17, 1993

Arrived Cudal on completion of the ferry flight to Australia - February 23, 1993

Operated its first revenue service Cudal - Orange - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as ZL150 - March 04, 1993

Hazelton had been progressively purchased by TNT / News Ltd, the parent company of Ansett Airlines - 2000 - 2001

Ansett suspended all operations due to bankruptcy - September 13, 2001

Operated its last revenue service Casino - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) as AN7534 - September 14, 2001

Hazelton was sold to Australiawide Airlines operating as Regional Express Airlines (REX) - August 01, 2002

Operated its first revenue service with Regional Express Airlines (REX) - August 06, 2002

Registered to Australiawide Airlines Ltd t/a Regional Express Airlines - September 16, 2002

Operated its final revenue service Melbourne (Tullamarine) - Albury as ZL436 - April 06, 2004

Ferried Albury - Wagga Wagga and prepared for return to Saab Leasing, Sweden

Departed Wagga Wagga on the ferry flight to the United States - April 19, 2004

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 17, 2004

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N676PA - June 25, 2004

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest, Salt Lake City

Leased to Peninsula Airways Inc, Anchorage, Alaska as the registered operator

The aircraft was named 'Spirit of Dutch Harbour' - May 2006

Withdrawn from service by Peninsula Airways - May 25, 2011

Returned to the Lessor in preparation for a new lease

Cancelled from the United States Aircraft Register - May 27, 2011

Entered onto the Bahamas Aircraft Register as C6-SBJ - May 27, 2011

Registered to Wells Fargo Bank Northwest Trustee

Leased to Sky Bahamas Airlines, Nassau, Bahamas as the registered operator

Damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Marsh Harbour International Airport - June 13, 2013

It was operating the Fort Lauderdale - Marsh Harbour service as Q7-9561

After touching down hard the aircraft aquaplaned off the runway in very poor weather conditions

The impact caused the starboard wing to separate from the fuselage

Reports indicate that the aircraft bounced three times before the wing failed on touchdown

There were no injuries or fatalities

Cancelled from the Bahamas Aircraft Register - ?