Pilot of doomed plane crash was involved in another midair incident

THE pilot of the plane which crashed into a shopping outlet was being investigated over a near midair collision less than two years ago.

THE pilot of the plane which crashed into a major shopping outlet in Melbourne and killed all five people on-board was being investigated over a near midair collision in 2015.

Corporate and Leisure Aviation, which operated yesterday’s ill-fated flight, is run by Max and Cilla Quartermain.

Mr Quartermain, 63, was flying the plane which crashed not long after taking off from Essendon Airport on Tuesday.

The plane was carrying four American tourists on their way to King Island for a golfing trip. There were no survivors.

Greg De Haven, Russell Munsch, Glenn Garland and Josh Washburn, all from Texas, have been named as four of the victims.

Mr Quartermain was described as a “champion bloke” and “fine pilot” by those who knew him.

Shortstop Jet Charter senior managing director and chief pilot Mike Falls was one of many to today pay tribute to his colleague.

“We feel the loss of part of the family very deeply. Max was one of the Essendon family, and we’re sad and we miss him,” Mr Falls said.

Workers at Essendon Airport businesses and several aviation sources described Mr Quartermain as “a great guy ... champion bloke” and an experienced pilot.

The company’s website says that Mr Quartermain had an Air Operations Certificate for more than 38 years and an “impeccable safety record”.

Pilot Max Quartermain was one of five people killed in a Melbourne plane crash today.

Deeply saddened by the tragic accident at Essendon today. Our hearts & prayers are with the victims and their families.

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) February 21, 2017

After the near-miss less than two years ago, Mr Quartermain passed safety checks required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

On September 3, 2015, Mr Quartermain was the pilot of one of two charter planes carrying a total of 18 people that flew frightening close to each other in bad weather at Mt Hotham.

The two Beechcraft B200 King Airs from separate firms were ferrying Audi customers to an exclusive snow-driving event, from Essendon Airport and from Bankstown Airport in western Sydney, the Herald Sun reported at the time.

Max Quartermain's charter flight was involved in a frightening close call in bad weather in 2015.

Near the destination, Mr Quartermain’s plane from Essendon came as close as one nautical mile (1.8km) horizontally and 90m vertically to the Sydney plane. It landed on the runway in the wrong direction, in heavy cloud and poor conditions.

The Sydney pilot said in his report: “If this event did result in a midair collision, two aircraft would have been destroyed and 18 people would have been killed.”

The ATSB — which investigated the incident — has been contacted for comment.

CASA required Mr Quartermain to undergo testing following the incident, and cleared the pilot when he passed.

“We did require him to undertake additional proficiency checks after that incident, and he obviously passed those checks,” CASA spokesman Peter Gibson told news.com.au.

The Australian reported Mr Quartermain failed an initial proficiency test issued by CASA last year, but passed on the second attempt. Mr Gibson said he was unable to confirm this report.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau reported recently that the investigation of the incident had been deferred three times due to “workload” and would be completed by May.

News.com.au has contacted the private charter company for comment.

‘CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE’

While the cause of yesterday’s crash is yet to be confirmed, the pilot reported a “catastrophic engine failure” moments before the plane crashed into a storage area at the rear of the mall, police said.

The ATSB has also deployed a team of four investigators to the Melbourne site to examine the wreckage, interview witnesses and gather audio and radar data from yesterday’s crash, which Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the state’s worst aviation disaster in 30 years.

It comes as shocking dashcam footage showed the moment the Beechcraft plane went down over a busy highway killing the pilot and four American tourists on board.

Video shows the plane flying low over the DFO building adjacent to Victoria’s Essendon Airport before disappearing out of sight just before 9am. The plane dipped dramatically and cartwheeled into the roof.

Mr Quartermain was flying a group of American golfers who were on the trip of a lifetime of Australia and New Zealand when they were killed in the fiery crash that made global headlines.

Mr Quartermain made two mayday calls before the crash.

Originally published as Pilot of doomed plane crash was involved in another midair incident