Bad weather probably caused a pilot to crash plane off Bellarine Peninsula: Report

A LIGHT plane crash off the Bellarine Peninsula in 2016, killing all on board, was probably caused by bad weather, a report has found.

Police recover debris from the crashed plane. Picture: Nigel Hallett

BAD WEATHER probably caused a pilot to become disorientated before his plane smashed into waters off the Victorian coast, killing all four people on board, authorities have found.

The Piper Aircraft left Moorabbin Airport on January 29, 2016, heading for King Island in the Bass Strait, when it hit low cloud and rain.

With visibility poor, the pilot initially made a 180-degree turn to backtrack to Point Lonsdale before heading south over the ocean, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report released on Wednesday.

After about two minutes the plane turned again then went into a rapid descent, hitting the water and killing 55-year-old Mordialloc man Daniel Flinn, Donald Hately, 68, of Noble Park, Di Bradley, 63, of Black Rock and her 65-year-old husband Ian Chamberlain.

Plane crash victim Don Hately with his daughter Elizabeth on a previous flight.

Don Hately was killed in a 2016 light plane crash near Barwon Heads.

The ATSB found the continued flight beyond Point Lonsdale was probably influenced by the difficulty of assessing the visibility conditions and the loss of visual clues probably led to the pilot becoming “spatially disorientated”.

The pilot also had a lack of instrument flying proficiency, increasing the risk.

The Bureau says education and training can help a pilot’s ability to respond to deteriorating weather conditions.

Plane crash victim Ian Chamberlain.

Police recover debris from the crashed plane in 2016. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“It is always possible that the actual weather conditions will be different to those forecast,” the report says.

“The ATSB cautions that, on entering an area of reduced visual cues, the risk of experiencing spatial disorientation and a loss of control is high.

“This risk is highest for those without proficiency or recent experience in instrument flying. Requesting assistance from air traffic control can increase the chances of re-establishing visual cues.”

Police investigate the crash near Barwon Heads. Picture: Nigel Hallett