Piper Mojave crashes near Sydney

The ATSB is commencing an investigation into the crash of a Piper Mojave at Canley Heights in Sydney’s south-west on the morning of June 15.

The aircraft, VH-PGW, took off from Bankstown Airport with a male pilot and a female nurse on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot notified air traffic control that the aircraft was experiencing engine troubles and would return to Bankstown. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft came down in what is being reported as an attempted landing on Canley Vale Road, but the aircraft hit powerlines before impacting the ground and catching fire.

Reports state that the 28 year old pilot and his passenger have been confirmed dead, while two adults and five students from a nearby school were taken to hospital suffering shock. The school was evacuated shortly afterwards.

The ATSB has launched an investigation into the crash, with five personnel dispatched from its Canberra headquarters to begin the investigation.