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. Source: 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.
