Aerial photo of Albion Park and airport. Photo: Chilby Photography.
Three people have died following a light aircraft crash at Shellharbour Airport this morning (11 October).
Emergency services were called to the scene about 10 am, responding to reports an aircraft had crashed shortly after take-off.
“Upon impacting with the ground, the aircraft caught on fire, which was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW,” police said.
Police confirmed three people on board were deceased. There are no reports of any other injuries.
A crime scene was established and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) were notified.
An ATSB spokesperson said it had begun a transport safety investigation into the crash involving a Piper Cherokee Lance aircraft.
“The aircraft was departing from runway 26 when, soon after take-off, flight tracking data shows it veering to the left and impacting the end of the intersecting runway, runway 16,” the spokesperson said.
“Despite a timely response from first responders, the aircraft was consumed by a post-impact fire and the three occupants were fatally injured.”
The spokesperson said it was deploying a team of four transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Melbourne offices, specialising in aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering, to the accident site.
“Once on site from late Saturday afternoon, investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities including site survey with a drone, wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra,” they said.
“Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties and witnesses, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.”
It took place as HARS Aviation Museum hosted day two of its October school holiday Tarmac Days, but was not linked to the event.
The ATSB asks anyone with video footage of the aircraft prior to the accident to make contact via the witness form on its website at their earliest opportunity.
