Police said the Diamond DA42 twin-engine plane hit hangar 54 at Parafield Airport in Adelaide’s north around 2:10pm on 29 April. Both people aboard were killed. “Shortly after take-off, [the plane] has tragically crashed into hangar 54 at the airport,” Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken told reporters at the scene.
Australian Flying identified the dead as a flight instructor and a student pilot, aged 24 and 29. The aircraft, registered VH-YQP, was flying circuits. ABC reported the plane was attempting to land. Whether structured training was under way is not yet established, ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
Fire in the hangar
Ten people inside the hangar were hurt. A 55-year-old man suffered life-threatening burns and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and two others were in serious condition. One more had minor injuries, and six people had smoke inhalation. The hangar was used for maintenance, aircraft storage and as a classroom, and a large number of student pilots were evacuated from the scene.
Aviation fuel stored inside fed the fire. Metropolitan Fire Service chief officer Jeff Swann said flames were intensified by the large amount of fuel there. The impact damaged the hydrant and sprinkler system, he said, leaving a shortage of water that made the blaze hard to put out. Three planes in the hangar were damaged. Australian Flying reported that several aircraft inside were destroyed.
Fifty-seven MFS firefighters attended, with a Country Fire Service crew. Thick black smoke spread across the area, and people were told to stay indoors.
Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau sent investigators from Canberra and Brisbane, covering aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering, human factors and survival factors. Mitchell said the carbon-fibre fire damage to the wreckage means the work will take time. They will examine the site and wreckage, interview witnesses, and collect flight tracking data, CCTV footage, pilot and aircraft maintenance records and weather information.
The ATSB is asking anyone with video of the flight or its aftermath to contact it through atsb.gov.au/witness. Parafield Airport stayed closed while evidence was gathered.
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas said: “My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have passed away, and with everyone affected by this devastating event.” Adelaide Airport, which operates Parafield, offered its deepest condolences to the families of the two who died.
Parafield is home to several flight training schools and is among the country’s busiest airports by aircraft movements. In January, a student pilot escaped unharmed after a Cessna crashed during takeoff and caught fire there.
Sources
- Two killed as DA42 crashes into hangar at Parafield Airport – Australian Flying
- Australia: Two dead after small plane crashes into airport hangar
- Two dead, another with life-threatening burns, after plane crash in Adelaide's north
