Doomed Essendon DFO plane gone in 60 seconds

THE plane at the centre of the horror plane crash in Melbourne was in flight for less than a minute before crashing into Essendon DFO.

THE plane at the centre of yesterday’s disaster was in flight for less than a minute before crashing into Essendon DFO.

Time stamps released by the airport and Metropolitan Fire Brigade paint a frantic picture as the aircraft took off at 8.58am but quickly encountered trouble.

It issued a mayday call at an altitude of about 200 feet and tried to turn back to the airport.

But less than a minute later — one second before the clock struck 8.59am — an automated distress alarm was activated ­inside the shopping centre where the plane crashed.

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The aircraft — a Beechcraft B200 King Air — is renowned for its safety record and is among the most popular picks for charter companies.

The plane has a cruising speed of about 500kmh and can carry up to 12 passengers and crew.

The twin-engine plane was built in 1996 but was first registered in Australia in 2013.

Captain David Booth, from the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, said the Beechcraft model had an “excellent safety record” across 50 years of production.

He said the plane had two powerful engines and was des­igned to fly safely if one ­failed.

One of the aircraft wheels on the Tullamarine Freeway Picture: Mark Wilson

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“The King Air is a very ­reliable and safe aeroplane, with an excellent safety record in Australia and around the world,” Captain Booth said.

“They are used extensively with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and charter operators as well.”

Flight records from Flight Aware show the plane had zigzagged across Australia in more than a dozen flights this year.

Its latest was on February 4 from Adelaide to Essendon — where it stayed until yesterday.

The Beechcraft had taken a total of 29 flights since late ­October, including between Bendigo and Swan Hill, Goulburn and Albury, and a 24-minute trip between South Austra­lian town Kingscote and the capital, Adelaide.

Where the light plane crashed on take off at Essendon airport. Picture: Channel 7

Max and Cilla Quartermain run the company that operated the flight.

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The flight history shows the plane was diverted twice last month — between Goulburn and Bendigo on January 13 and Friendly Beaches and Kingscote almost three weeks later.

The reasons were not clear.

Corporate and Leisure Aviation advertised on Twitter a series of trips, including a snow getaway to Mt Hotham and flights to the Bathurst 1000 and the Winery Walkabout at Rutherglen.

It also promoted flights to Tasmania with a tour of Three Hummock, Flinders and King islands in October last year.

Captain Booth said a Beechcraft King Air was capable of flying about 2200km — or the equivalent distance between Adelaide and Brisbane.

“The aeroplane is proven, it’s very popular among companies and pilots,” he said.

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@moniquehore