POLICE divers were yesterday still searching for the body of 55-year-old Mordialloc man Daniel Flinn, who died when the plane in which he was flying with three friends crashed into Bass Strait, off Barwon Heads, late last month.
The fuselage of the Piper Cherokee carrying the bodies of Donald Hately, 68, of Noble Park, Di Bradley, 63, of Black Rock, and her 65-year-old husband Ian Chamberlain, was recovered soon after the accident but Mr Flinn’s body has yet to be found.
The friends had left Moorabbin airport on Friday 29 January intending to spend the weekend at the races at King Island. It is usually a 90 minute trip.
Their 1967 dual-control plane was heading into “really heavy weather; terrible sky and lots of driving rain” – and flying as low as 100 metres over the ocean – according to a Queenscliff fisherman who saw the lead-up to the crash.
Although it has not yet been made public who was piloting the aircraft, all on board were regarded as experienced aviators. There was no distress call.
Aviation experts say pilot error is the major cause of air crashes – especially disorientation in cloud.
Late Sunday afternoon the plane’s engine block, propeller and part of the fuselage were found on the seabed, at a depth of 33 metres, about four kilometres offshore between Point Lonsdale and Barwon Heads.
The wreckage was found using a remote operated vehicle which determined its location and guided police divers to the site. The wreckage was then loaded onto a barge and towed into Williamstown where it was to be inspected by investigators this week.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said yesterday it was “not in a position to comment [on the accident] as there is an investigation under way by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. We will study the findings carefully when they are available.”
The bureau, as part of its investigation, will examine weather conditions at the time; pilot training and experience, and aircraft maintenance records.
Their preliminary report is expected to be released in early March. They ask that any witnesses call 1800 020 616.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 10 February 2016
