Man dead in Bacchus Marsh plane crash

A man has died after his plane crashed just moments after leaving the tarmac for takeoff at an aerodrome west of Melbourne.

A crashed plane at the in airfield in Parwan, near Bacchus Marsh. Picture: 7News

A pilot has died in a plane crash west of Melbourne just moments after his aircraft left the tarmac.

The crash occurred at 11.20am at the Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome in Parwan.

Shortly after takeoff, the Cessna 150 light aircraft descended and crashed into terrain in paddock adjacent to the airport.

The man has not been identified and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Kurunjang woman Danielle Beech said she arrived at the scene minutes after the incident, intending to visit the airport with her son.

“I live in Kurunjang but was taking my son to see the airfield at the time,” Ms Beech said.

“We saw a light plane on the way looked like it was circling so I showed my son and said that’s a bit strange but continued to drive to the airfield.

“We got there about three minutes later to find emergency services heading to what looked like a metal wreck.

“I sat and watched what was happening in disbelief for a while and decided to leave so my son didn’t see anything distressing.”

The Herald Sun understands that the Cessna is often used for a form of training.

The Cessna 150 light aircraft which crashed this morning. Picture: 7News

The plane crashed shortly after leaving the runway. Picture: 7News

Emergency services are currently on scene at an aircraft crash on Aerodrome Road, Parwan. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has begun a transport safety investigation into the accident.

It will deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney offices.

“Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities on site, including wreckage examination, site mapping with a drone, and recovery of any relevant aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra,” an ATSB spokesman said.

“Investigators will also seek to interview any witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including any flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.”

A strewn bit of aircraft lies in a paddock. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The aerodrome is operated by the Moorabool Shire Council.

Council chief executive Derek Madden said the council was “aware of the awful situation at the aerodrome”.

“While investigations are continuing we can’t make any further comment, but our thoughts are with all involved,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said more information regarding the person involved would be provided when it was “appropriate to do so”.

The Bacchus Marsh aerodrome is closed after a plane crash. Picture: Athos Sirianos

Police have closed off any access to the aerodrome via Aerodrome Rd while Skylark Way is also closed.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority were also contacted for comment.

On August 25, about 80 emergency service personnel took part in a multiagency training exercise, preparing for any potential plane crashes.

The crash is the second in just six weeks in Victoria, after a man died in a crash near Castlemaine.

In that crash, a neighbour rushed to the Redesdale scene after he heard a large bang.

There he found a mangled wreck in a “massive ball of flames”.

In April, a glider crashed at Mount Beauty.

Pilot Greig Wanless and passenger Kate Callingham had been flying to scatter the ashes of his best mate Max Callingham, who was also Ms Callingham’s father.

More to come.

Originally published as Man dead in Bacchus Marsh plane crash