Post by corsair67 on Aug 1, 2007 10:48:20 GMT 12
From news.com.au.
Investigators set to probe fatal light plane crash
August 01, 2007 02:22am
AIR safety investigators will this morning meet at the site of a plane crash north of Melbourne that killed a Melbourne pilot and her Queensland passenger.
The pilot, a 34-year-old Balwyn North woman and a 50-year-old man from the Cairns suburb of Whitfield, died when their twin-engined Aero Commander 500 crashed near Clonbinane, 60km north of Melbourne, about 8.20pm (AEST) last night.
Residents nearby reported hearing a plane in trouble and an explosion shortly after, Victoria Police spokesman Wayne Wilson said yesterday.
A search of the area was launched, involving police air and ground crews and volunteers from the Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service.
The wreckage was found by a police helicopter crew about 9.45pm.
There were no other people on board the flight.
The fatal flight took off from Essendon Airport shortly before 8pm bound for Shepparton, 180km northeast of Melbourne.
The plane came down in heavy scrub near Drag Hill and Raynors roads, south of Clonbinane.
The weather bureau had issued a severe weather warning for western and central districts of Victoria, including the crash site, for severe winds averaging 75km/h with gusts to 110km/h, especially in elevated areas.
The area is near the top of the Great Dividing Range.
Monument Hill, a short distance west of the crash site, rises to 480m above sea level.
Police and the SES guarded the scene overnight while awaiting the crash investigators.
The bodies of the two victims will most likely be recovered today.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau deputy director Kerryn Macaulay said it was too early to say whether 60km/h winds prompted the crash.
"That's our job, to go and look carefully at the accident site and all the other evidence to make a determination," Ms Macaulay told ABC radio this morning.
"I do understand there was gusty weather in that area, but there could be a number of other factors that led to this accident."
Investigators set to probe fatal light plane crash
August 01, 2007 02:22am
AIR safety investigators will this morning meet at the site of a plane crash north of Melbourne that killed a Melbourne pilot and her Queensland passenger.
The pilot, a 34-year-old Balwyn North woman and a 50-year-old man from the Cairns suburb of Whitfield, died when their twin-engined Aero Commander 500 crashed near Clonbinane, 60km north of Melbourne, about 8.20pm (AEST) last night.
Residents nearby reported hearing a plane in trouble and an explosion shortly after, Victoria Police spokesman Wayne Wilson said yesterday.
A search of the area was launched, involving police air and ground crews and volunteers from the Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service.
The wreckage was found by a police helicopter crew about 9.45pm.
There were no other people on board the flight.
The fatal flight took off from Essendon Airport shortly before 8pm bound for Shepparton, 180km northeast of Melbourne.
The plane came down in heavy scrub near Drag Hill and Raynors roads, south of Clonbinane.
The weather bureau had issued a severe weather warning for western and central districts of Victoria, including the crash site, for severe winds averaging 75km/h with gusts to 110km/h, especially in elevated areas.
The area is near the top of the Great Dividing Range.
Monument Hill, a short distance west of the crash site, rises to 480m above sea level.
Police and the SES guarded the scene overnight while awaiting the crash investigators.
The bodies of the two victims will most likely be recovered today.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau deputy director Kerryn Macaulay said it was too early to say whether 60km/h winds prompted the crash.
"That's our job, to go and look carefully at the accident site and all the other evidence to make a determination," Ms Macaulay told ABC radio this morning.
"I do understand there was gusty weather in that area, but there could be a number of other factors that led to this accident."
