Investigators tackle fatal Rottnest Island sea plane crash

Investigators are picking over the wreck of the sea plane that crashed during takeoff at WA’s Rottnest Island on Tuesday, killing three people.

Angela Cloraine, the fellow pilot and reportedly partner of James Wong. Mr Wong was killed in the Rottnest Island seaplane crash on Tuesday. Picture: Facebook

Investigators are picking over the wreck of the sea plane that crashed during takeoff at Western Australia’s Rottnest Island on Tuesday, killing three people.

A crane aboard a barge pulled the Cessna 208 Caravan from the Indian Ocean on Tuesday morning, two days after it appeared to lean right, bank left then plunge into the sea.

Pilot James Wong and two passengers died while four other passengers survived and were taken to hospital. Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators on Thursday were seeking to recover and preserve any recorded data on-board the aircraft, including flight tracking and engine performance data, and any mobile phones or other devices.

Investigators are also examining video of the crash recorded by members of the public as well as video of the Cessna aborting a takeoff in choppy conditions on the Swan River four days earlier.

Conditions on Rottnest will form part of the investigation, as will any late manoeuvre of the plane to avoid Phillip Rock, a limestone landmark jutting out of the water at Thomson Bay.

Premier Roger Cook said there was an industry view there was not enough oversight of aviation and tourism in WA’s far north. He said that as tourism minister, he warned the federal regulator it had to do more in isolated areas.