Canberra plane crash: Essential Energy plane crashes near Sutton leaving two men dead

Two young men from the Victoria/NSW border who tragically died in a plane crash on Tuesday have been identified, one aged just 18.

A 31-year-old Victorian pilot, Hayden Bruce, and his 18-year-old Albury passenger, Tom Sheather, have been identified as the two men who died when their Cessna crashed outside Canberra on Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened near Sutton, just north of the ACT, while the men were inspecting high voltage powerlines.

The plane was flying at an altitude of about 200m before tragedy struck.

The two men were employees of Albury based company Oberon Aviation, and were inspecting power lines on a contract with Essential Energy.

Director and chief pilot at Oberon Aviation Stirling Preston paid tribute to the two men and vowed to find what caused the crash.

Hayden Bruce, 31, was flying a Cessna 172 when it crashed outside Canberra on Tuesday. He died instantly. Picture: Facebook.

Tom Sheather, 18, was in a Cessna 172 when it crashed outside Canberra on Tuesday. He died instantly. Picture: Supplied

“We’re a small aviation business company, and family, and have lost two of our members,” Mr Preston said.

“Our focus right now is to provide support for the families of our crew members, and our staff, as we all grieve this loss.

“We can’t speculate on what might have caused this tragic accident while formal investigations are underway.

“However, our families and staff can be assured that we will leave ‘no stone unturned’ in finding the cause of this accident.

“Our staff and their families remain the focus of our thoughts and care.”

Hume District Police Superintendent Paul Conlon said police have handed the crash scene over the investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

He said the plane took off about 1.30pm on Tuesday and was expected to return to Canberra Airport before dark.

Two people died in a fatal plane crash outside Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

He said there was no suggestion the plane hit power lines. He said the 31-year-old pilot was from country Victoria, while the 18-year-old was passenger was from Albury.

The men’s bodies were removed from the wreckage overnight and NSW police will prepare a report for the coroner.

“I’ve been to a number of plane crashes, and they’re all horrific scenes,” Supt Conlon said.

Supt Conlon said the deaths of the two young men came as a shock to their bosses and to their families, who were notified of the crash last night.

Superintendent Paul Condon speaks to media outlets outside Goulburn Police Station following a fatal plane crash.

“As you would expect, all this is a shock to them,” he said.

The plane, a Cessna 172, crashed into a farm paddock off Tallagandra Lane, with a handful of nearby residents describing the final moments before the crash.

“I heard a plane flying very low. At the time I thought that’s very low. And thought ‘I hope it stays in the air’,” Sutton resident Linda Bloom said.

NSW Ambulance, ACT paramedics and the NSW Rural Fire Service were called to the scene but the pilot and passenger on board – both men – were declared dead upon arrival.

Essential Energy – the company which the plane and crew were contracted to – offered its condolences to those grieving.

“We can confirm that the plane was performing contracted aerial inspections of the Essential Energy electricity network prior to the incident,” a company spokesman said.

“Essential Energy’s thoughts remain with the families, friends and colleagues of the two people who died.”

Originally published as Canberra plane crash: Essential Energy plane crashes near Sutton leaving two men dead