A Melbourne plane crash that killed all five people on board could have been prevented if the pilot followed pre-flight check lists, an investigation has
found.
Max Quartermain crashed shortly after take off as he flew four American passengers on a golfing holiday out of Essendon Airport on February 21 last year.
Fire crew at the scene where a light plane crashed into the back of a DFO building at Essendon airport in Melbourne.
AAP
An investigation by the aviation watchdog found the pilot failed to complete checklists before take off, meaning he crucially did not detect the plane's
rudder trim was in nose-left position before takeoff.
This hampered the plane's ability to ascend, causing it to plunge into a DFO shopping centre building about 10 seconds after takeoff.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau probe found the pilot had five opportunities in various pre-flight checks to recognise that the trim tab, which
helps control the aircraft movement, was not in a neutral position.
"It appears as if the checklist was not followed correctly," ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood said on Monday.
