Bombshell reports finds horror Mt Disappointment crash occurred after helicopter engulfed by ‘wall of cloud’

An investigation into a helicopter crash that killed five people has found the pilot unintentionally dived after encountering a “wall of cloud”.

An investigation into a horror helicopter crash which killed five people in Victoria has concluded the flight should have been cancelled because of weather conditions.

Dean Neal and his passengers Paul Troja, Ian Perry, Linda Woodford and Nicholas Vasudeva died following a crash at Victoria’s Mt Disappointment on March 31, 2022.

The group was onboard one of two Microflite helicopters travelling to inspect property in Ulupna, in Victoria’s north, when the crash occurred.

The flight's planned route and crash location. Picture: Supplied/ ATSB

A new report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau released this week found Mr Neal and the second pilot were not qualified to fly in rough weather and held concerns about the conditions before the trip.

But the report notes the findings; “should not be read as apportioning blame or liability to any particular organisation or individual”.

The aircraft departed from Batman Park in Melbourne CBD about 7.40am travelling north before encountering a “wall of cloud” at Mt Dissapointment about 7.56am.

Dean Neal, 32, died in the Mount Disappointment helicopter crash.Picture: Instagram

The first helicopter broadcast to Mr Neal he planned to perform a U-turn, with Mr Neal descending and hovering as the first pilot turned back.

Records retrieved from Mr Neal’s craft indicated he then attempted to perform a “steep turn” to exit the cloud quicker, but instead plunged to the ground and struck an old growth tree before bursting into flames.

A passenger in the first helicopter described the incident as a “white-out”.

“A wispy cloud then went past us, and it felt like a heavy white cloud came down and dumped on us,” they said.

The first pilot reported not seeing the second craft after performing the U-turn and quickly alerted the Microflite which began search and rescue operations.

“The significant deviation of the pitch attitude during the turn was likely unintentional and the result of inadequate pilot control due to a lack of instrument flying training and artificial stabilisation,” the report found.

The wreckage was found in remote bushland. Picture: Nine News

“This pilot had no instrument flying experience, and the helicopter was not equipped with any form of artificial stabilisation, nor was either required by the regulations.”

The Bureau also found that prior to the crash Mr Neal had been “momentarily distracted” by the aircraft’s standby artificial horizon device, which “erroneously indicated an unusual attitude”.

All five on board were killed in what has been labelled one of Victoria’s worst recent air disasters.

The report found both pilots should have avoided flying with th eweather conditions of the day due to their qualification levels.