Widow Terri Hutchinson says ATSB has treated families of pilots killed in Renmark Rossair crash as ‘worthless entities’

The widow of a pilot killed when a plane crashed near Renmark says her family has been treated like “worthless entities” by the aviation safety watchdog — as the expected release date of the final report into the incident is delayed again.

The wreckage from the Rossair plane crash in Renmark. Picture: Matt Loxton

• Rossair plane crash: Victims’ families open up one year after tragedy

The family of a pilot killed in a plane crash near Renmark says her family has been treated like “worthless entities” by the aviation safety watchdog investigating the incident.

The comments come as the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed the estimated release date for the report into the crash which killed three experienced pilots had been pushed back another six months.

Terri Hutchinson, the widow of Rossair chief pilot Martin Scott, said the ongoing delays and the justifications made by the ATSB were meant to placate the families of the dead pilots.

DISMAYED: Terri Hutchinson with her son Andy and dog Sumo at their Belair home. She is still waiting for answers into the plane crash that killed her husband Martin Scott. Picture: Matt Turner.

Mr Scott, 48, was alongside experienced pilot Paul Daw, 65, and Civil Aviation Safety Authority officer Stephen Guerin, 56, in a nine-seat Rossair aircraft when it crashed into scrubland 4km from Renmark Aerodrome on May 30, 2017.

The pilots were completing an evaluation flight for Mr Daw who was planning to join the ranks of Rossair.

The plane was only in the air between 60 and 90 seconds before plummeting into the ground nose first, killing all three occupants on impact.

Pilot Martin Scott. Picture: Facebook

“To say that I am more than disappointed would be a huge understatement,” Ms Hutchinson told The Advertiser.

“In my opinion, this investigation has been flawed from the outset.”

Mrs Hutchinson said the ATSB had “not bothered to tell those involved” that the publication of the report had been pushed back.

“In fact, the last push-back came after I received an email from the Chief Commissioner of the ATSB saying they would take ‘extra care to keep me informed’.

Stephen Guerin.

Pilot Paul Daw.

“That is clearly rubbish and I must say, the latest development has made it seem as though those who lost so much that day are treated as worthless entities.

“To date, Martin’s father and I have been advised that we would receive a draft copy of the final report one month prior to public release.

“(In an email received earlier this week) they have now said that there could be a ‘number of months’ in between the draft report and the final publication.

An ATSB spokesman confirmed the final report is expected to be published in the final quarter of 2019 — more than double the 12 month target for air crash investigations.

“It is important to note that investigations are complex and dynamic, and the priority of the ATSB is always the thoroughness of an investigation to ensure that any systemic safety issues are identified and addressed,” he said.

“This means that complex investigations can take longer, if necessary, in order to ensure a robust investigation with the appropriate third party input and reviews.

“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of any investigation, the ATSB immediately notifies relevant parties to ensure safety action is taken.”