ATSB probes double fatality in Brisbane light plane accident

“Three ATSB investigators from our Brisbane office were on site from Monday afternoon, and they have been examining the aircraft wreckage, including checking for flight control continuity, examining the engine and propeller, and recovering any recording devices – such as avionics equipment or GPS units – for download and analysis at our facilities in Canberra,” said ATSB Acting Chief Commissioner Colin McNamara.

“Once the aircraft and engine have been recovered, they will also be available to the ATSB for further examination if required.

“Investigators will continue other evidence gathering activities including interviewing witnesses and involved parties, obtaining and analysing recorded data, and collecting aircraft maintenance and pilot records.”

According to McNamara, witnesses had reported hearing the engine sounding as if it was “running rough or spluttering”, which he noted as “important information for our investigators”.

“We do continue to ask anyone with video footage, such as from dashcams or CCTVs that may have captured the aircraft in flight to contact us via the witness form on our website at your earliest opportunity,” he said.

“From here the ATSB will next provide a substantive update on the progress of the investigation when we release a preliminary report, which will detail factual information established in the investigation’s evidence gathering phase, in about 8 weeks.

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“We will then publish a final report detailing findings and the analysis to support those findings at the conclusion of the investigation. Depending on the evidence available to us and what that evidence points to, that process can be expected to take a number of months.”

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg told The Australian that the Campbells were well-known and highly regarded in the region.

“The death of a family member is always extremely difficult but when two family members who are in reality in the prime of their life, are taken in such tragic circumstances it just exacerbates the grief that family and friends and many are feeling,” he said.

“[The Campbells] were extraordinarily innovative in their approach and they brought a level of confidence in investment which was very important to our region.

“That just shows the mark of this family and the confidence that they actually had for agriculture and the dairy industry, and not only were they well connected to the local community, they were great corporate citizens and very generous in their support within the community and their support for very significant local community events, which was greatly appreciated.”

The aircraft, VH-MPT, was reportedly registered to Brisbane-based Telford Aviation.