THE Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating a collision on the ground at Moorabbin Airport on Saturday in which two planes were severely damaged. The incident involved a Piper PA-28 and a Cessna 172.
During its initial climb, the Piper’s crew reported a rough running engine and dashed back to Moorabbin.
However, when landing, it overshot the runway and collided with the taxiing Cessna causing substantial damage to both aircraft.
Three occupants of the Cessna suffered minor injuries.
As part of the investigation, the bureau will interview the pilots, obtain air traffic surveillance data and gather additional information.
Communications officer Carl Fellows said a report would be released “in the next few months”.
Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Ambulance Victoria attended the incident and confirmed the three, including a man and a woman aged in their 20s, had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Two others were treated at the airport. All were suffering from shock.
Damage to the aircraft was so severe that MFB Commander Paul Foster is reported as saying he was “surprised the people in the planes were not more badly hurt than what they actually are. It was a very severe impact.”
About 25 firefighters were called in to contain and mop up fuel leaking from both aircraft.
