Early report finds fatal Australia Day plane crash caused by stall
Investigators believe the plane that crashed into the Swan River on Australia Day, killing the pilot and his girlfriend, stalled before impact.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released its preliminary findings into the crash, which claimed the lives of pilot Peter Lynch and his partner Endah Ari Cakrawati.
The ATSB said the crash was consistent with an aerodynamic stall, but the final report won’t be released for a number of months.
The seaplane had been taking part in an air display for Perth’s Skyworks celebration when it rolled left, pitched down and apparently stalled.
Peter Lynch had only flown the twin engine seaplane to Perth from over east not long before the tragedy.
As part of its onsite investigation completed in early February, the ATSB didn't find any pre-existing aircraft defects contributing to the crash.
Investigators have retained the plane's fuel totaliser, navigation unit and a mobile phone for further examination.
They'll also look at maintenance and pilot training records and examine flight radar, radio and GPS data as part of the probe.
“There are no surprises in the preliminary report (but) obviously a lot more work to be done,” aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas said.
The final report could take up to a year to complete.
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