On 2 October 1994, a pilot submitted a flight plan to the Melbourne Civil Aviation Authority indicating that Aero Commander 690 aircraft VH-SVQ would be conducting a regular public transport service, flight CD 111, from Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport to Lord Howe Island, with an intermediate landing at Williamtown.

The plane was flown by one pilot and arrived at Williamtown without incident. During the flight from Williamtown to Lord Howe Island, the pilot reported a severe vibration which he thought was caused by airframe or propeller icing.

At 1.25pm an uncertainty phase was declared and the Melbourne Rescue Co-ordination Centre made arrangements for search and rescue. A distress phase was declared at 2.11pm, and the pilot reported losing control of the aircraft several minutes after.

As a result of this incident, nine people were killed. Only a small part of the plane was recovered in the search.