Diamond DA42 Crash at Parafield Airport: Two Dead, Multiple Injured

A Diamond DA42 twin-engined training aircraft crashed into a hangar at Parafield Airport in Adelaide's northern suburbs on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in two fatalities and multiple injuries. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation.

Incident

At approximately 2:10 PM local time, a Diamond DA42 aircraft crashed into a hangar shortly after takeoff. The plane was conducting circuit training at the time of the accident.

According to witness accounts, the aircraft rolled sharply left seconds after takeoff and continued past 180 degrees before impacting the building. The collision caused a fire that was intensified by fuel on the aircraft and in the hangar.

The hangar's sprinkler system was reported to be inoperative, which complicated firefighting efforts.

Casualties

Two occupants of the aircraft died at the scene:

• The flight instructor, Robert "Rob" Hoyle, age 29
• A 24-year-old student pilot

Ten people who were inside the hangar at the time of the crash were taken to hospital. As of Thursday, two remain hospitalized; eight have been discharged. Injuries include:

• A 55-year-old man with life-threatening burns
• Two people with serious injuries
• One person with minor injuries
• Six people treated for smoke inhalation

Emergency Response

Fifty-five firefighters and 14 trucks responded to the blaze. The immediate area was evacuated, including student pilots who were removed from the scene by firefighters. The Metropolitan Fire Service confirmed the fire was extinguished.

The airport was closed to all air traffic following the incident.

Investigation

The ATSB is deploying a team of investigators specializing in aircraft operations, maintenance, engineering, human factors, and survival factors. They are scheduled to arrive on Thursday to examine the crash site and wreckage.

Key investigation activities include:

• Examination of aircraft wreckage and the crash site
• Recovery of components for analysis, including engine components to be sent to Canberra
• Interviews with witnesses
• Collection of flight data, CCTV footage, maintenance records, and weather information

Preliminary Findings

A preliminary ATSB report indicates that the crash may have been caused by a failure in the nose landing gear actuator rod, which had fractured due to progressive fatigue cracking. The failure could have interfered with flight controls.

According to the report:

• The aircraft took off to conduct simulated engine failure circuits
• The main landing gear retracted, but the nose gear remained extended
• Approximately 27 seconds after takeoff, at 115 feet above ground level, the instructor radioed "engine failure"
• No further calls were heard, and the plane crashed within a minute
• The left engine showed no signs of producing power on impact
• The aircraft reached a height of 161 feet; the operator's procedures prohibit simulated engine failures below 400 feet

The aircraft manufacturer issued mandatory bulletins in 2013 and 2019 following separate incidents involving the same part. Metallurgical analysis of the broken rod is ongoing, but preliminary examination found indications of fatigue cracking before complete failure.

Context

This was the second light plane crash at Parafield Airport in recent months. A January incident resulted in no injuries. The airport is a general aviation facility in Adelaide's northern suburbs.

Statements

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that the investigation is in its early stages and will examine all factors. He described the incident as tragic.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas expressed condolences to families affected and thanked first responders.

Robert Hoyle's father, Scott Hoyle, stated the family remains heartbroken and takes some comfort that the accident appears to have been caused by mechanical error.

Next Steps

The ATSB requests anyone with video footage of the incident or its immediate aftermath to contact them via their website. A preliminary report is expected in six to eight weeks, with a final report anticipated in approximately 18 months.