29:
315:
276:. The aircraft then impacted the ground a few metres away and ignited, starting a fire. The DFO complex, located on the airport grounds, had not yet begun the day's trading. All five people on board were killed in the crash, including the four passengers who were American tourists on their way to King Island to play golf. Victorian Premier
384:
recorded were determined to be those of a previous flight six weeks before the crash and did not include any sounds from after the aircraft's landing at the end of that flight. The investigators concluded that the aircraft touched down hard enough when landing to activate the impact switch and it was never reset.
326:(AOPA) criticised the practice of allowing commercial developments, such as the Essendon DFO complex, at Australian airports, saying these reduced the options available to pilots in emergencies. He stated that AOPA had been calling on governments for two decades to stop such developments. A spokesman for the
378:
A typical cockpit voice recorder (CVR) records in a continuous loop, so that it always has a finite amount of recorded sounds (30 minutes to some hours, depending on the type), being the most recent (i.e. the sounds immediately before the CVR stops for any reason). The electrical wire supplying power
383:
and is typically located near the CVR; the switch functions to interrupt power to the CVR in a crash so that it does not continue to run and erase the sounds leading up to the crash. If the switch is activated in a non-crash situation, it must be reset manually. In the accident aircraft, the sounds
289:
The official investigation's initial findings include that there were no pre-existing aircraft faults, that the pilot made a mayday call, that the voice recorder failed, and that witnesses said the take-off took "longer than normal". Engine tear-downs show that both powerplants were free to rotate
350:
and yaw to the left once airborne. Ultimately the uncorrected configuration caused a loss of control of the aircraft. The checklist used by the pilot did not contain a specific check for the trim tab position before takeoff. The investigation was hindered by the lack of data from the
1603:
1100:
981:
827:
627:
1613:
290:
and both propellers showed evidence of rotation, although only the left propeller left slash damage to the building roof. Further findings would be made public as the investigation was concluded.
1093:
80:
1109:
1086:
820:
911:
1559:
1274:
1608:
1069:
1063:
813:
1255:
468:
653:
1223:
1403:
346:
being set incorrectly. Failure of the pilot to realise the rudder trim was set fully to the left caused a longer than normal takeoff and caused the aircraft to
1247:
1011:
961:
493:
1239:
1231:
1618:
1124:
991:
1457:
1411:
1333:
1140:
941:
1438:
901:
577:
1575:
323:
604:
1623:
1368:
330:
also criticised commercial development of land at
Essendon Airport. Anti-airport campaigners renewed calls for the airport to be closed.
1309:
1301:
327:
1524:
747:
706:
702:"Investigation: AO-2017-024 - Collision with terrain involving B200 King Air VH-ZCR at Essendon Airport, Victoria on 21 February 2017"
525:
445:
441:"Investigation: AO-2017-024 - Collision with terrain involving B200 King Air VH-ZCR at Essendon Airport, Victoria on 21 February 2017"
339:
1567:
1540:
1191:
1167:
1051:
891:
286:
Some local residents and aviation groups have stated that the crash shows buildings have been constructed too close to the airport.
837:
1505:
1021:
881:
675:
1031:
55:
1395:
921:
861:
413:
Transport Safety Report, Final
Investigation, Loss of control and collision with terrain involving B200 King Air, VH-ZCR
1598:
1481:
1465:
1352:
971:
795:
701:
1430:
1175:
440:
355:, which had stopped working on a previous flight. Furthermore, the weight of the aircraft at takeoff exceeded its
1376:
299:
238:
136:
551:
1473:
1360:
1199:
362:
In
September 2021, it was reported that the pilot failed a proficiency test two years prior to the crash.
356:
246:
1325:
1317:
1215:
1183:
1132:
1041:
1001:
951:
931:
796:"Pilot Max Quartermain failed a key skills test two years before deadly Essendon DFO crash, court hears"
306:
as VH-ZCR; it was manufactured in 1996 and had accumulated just under 7,000 hours of service time.
303:
151:
1497:
347:
175:
74:
28:
805:
1282:
552:"Charter plane crashes at Melbourne's Essendon airport: 'There is constant explosions going off'"
1078:
283:
Media sources reported that the aircraft crashed as a result of an engine failure on take-off.
1148:
412:
1489:
250:
164:
1207:
352:
70:
605:"Essendon plane crash: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews defends airport's safety record"
729:
277:
1592:
769:
314:
469:"Essendon air crash: Investigators scour plane wreckage, find 'interesting facets'"
273:
66:
628:"Essendon airport buffer concerns raised by Moonee Valley Council three years ago"
748:"Essendon crash: Locals say plane smashing into shopping centre 'a tragic mess'"
242:
676:"Investigation finds no evidence of engine failure before Essendon plane crash"
359:, but this factor was not determined to be a contributing factor to the crash.
95:
82:
254:
343:
578:"Five dead after Victoria's 'worst civil aviation accident in 30 years'"
380:
280:
said it was the worst civil aviation accident in
Victoria in 30 years.
272:
calls before the aircraft clipped the roof of a building housing the
269:
260:
Four
American passengers and the Australian pilot died in the crash.
379:
to the CVR is routed via an 'impact switch', that is activated by a
342:
determined the accident was a result of one of the flight control
313:
654:"Essendon airport to re-open two days after plane crash tragedy"
1604:
Accidents and incidents involving the
Beechcraft Super King Air
1082:
809:
494:"Plane crashes sparks DFO explosion near Melbourne airport"
626:
Powley, Katherine; Masanauskas, John (22 February 2017).
322:
The
Executive Director of the Australian branch of the
245:
flight, carrying a pilot and four passengers bound for
33:
VH-ZCR, the aircraft involved in the accident, in 2014
1614:
Aviation accidents and incidents in
Victoria (state)
1551:
1516:
1449:
1422:
1387:
1344:
1293:
1266:
1159:
1116:
227:
222:
214:
206:
198:
190:
182:
171:
160:
150:
142:
132:
127:
119:
111:
62:
51:
43:
38:
603:Chalkley-Rhoden, Stephanie (22 February 2017).
22:2017 Essendon Airport Beechcraft King Air crash
1275:Australian National Airways Douglas DC-4 crash
727:Report in Australian Broadcasting Corporation
526:"Plane crashes into Melbourne Shopping Centre"
237:On 21 February 2017, at 8:59 am local time, a
1110:Aviation accidents and incidents in Australia
1094:
821:
770:"Pilot error blamed in Melbourne plane crash"
8:
741:
739:
407:
405:
403:
401:
21:
1256:Queensland Airlines Lockheed Lodestar crash
558:. NZME Publishing Limited. 21 February 2017
1533:Essendon Airport Beechcraft King Air crash
1101:
1087:
1079:
828:
814:
806:
519:
517:
515:
27:
20:
1224:Australian National Airways Stinson crash
1609:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2017
1404:Barrington Tops Cessna 210 disappearance
1334:MacRobertson Miller Airlines Flight 1750
249:, crashed seconds after taking off from
1248:MacRobertson Miller Aviation DC-3 crash
733:7:00am news bulletin, 22 February 2017.
397:
371:
1240:Australian National Airways DC-3 crash
1232:Australian National Airways DC-3 crash
435:
433:
324:Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
1560:Coulson Aviation Lockheed C-130 crash
1125:Avro Ten Southern Cloud disappearance
992:Medford, New Jersey, helicopter crash
982:UAE Air Force UH-60M Black Hawk crash
962:US Marine Corps Lockheed KC-130 crash
750:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
607:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
524:Wahlquist, Calla (21 February 2017).
7:
1369:Disappearance of Frederick Valentich
652:Abraham, Claire (23 February 2017).
1458:Australia Beechcraft King Air crash
1412:Alice Springs hot air balloon crash
1310:Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538
1302:Trans Australia Airlines Flight 408
1141:Airlines of Australia Stinson crash
942:Myanmar Air Force Shaanxi Y-8 crash
328:Australian Federation of Air Pilots
16:Plane crash in Melbourne, Australia
1439:South Pacific Airmotive DC-3 crash
912:South Supreme Airlines An-26 crash
902:Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 crash
872:Essendon Beechcraft King Air crash
707:Australian Transport Safety Bureau
446:Australian Transport Safety Bureau
340:Australian Transport Safety Bureau
14:
1619:February 2017 events in Australia
1576:Coulson Aviation Boeing 737 crash
892:Swan Aviation Sikorsky S-76 crash
532:. Guardian News and Media Limited
467:Mannix, Liam (22 February 2017).
838:Aviation accidents and incidents
746:Cowan, Jane (22 February 2017).
1012:Valan International An-26 crash
318:Smoke plume from the crash site
1022:Khabarovsk Airlines Flight 463
882:Ameristar Charters Flight 9363
798:. ABC News. 21 September 2021.
146:Corporate and Leisure Charters
1:
1032:West Wind Aviation Flight 282
500:. News Corp. 21 February 2017
1568:Gold Coast mid-air collision
1541:Sydney Seaplanes DHC-2 crash
1396:Advance Airlines Flight 4210
1192:KNILM Douglas DC-3 shootdown
1168:Brocklesby mid-air collision
1052:Sydney Seaplanes DHC-2 crash
922:Peruvian Airlines Flight 112
862:Turkish Airlines Flight 6491
302:, serial number BB-1544 and
1624:2017 disasters in Australia
1482:Lockhart River air disaster
1466:Whyalla Airlines Flight 904
1353:Ansett Australia Flight 232
972:Thomson Airways Flight 1526
418:(Report). 24 September 2018
1640:
1506:Pel-Air Westwind ditching
1377:Cessna 188 Pacific rescue
1061:
853:
26:
338:An investigation by the
300:Beechcraft B200 King Air
239:Beechcraft B200 King Air
137:Beechcraft B200 King Air
96:37.734423°S 144.904996°E
178:, King Island, Tasmania
1525:Queensland DH.84 crash
1474:QantasLink Flight 1737
1361:Connellan air disaster
1200:Bakers Creek air crash
357:maximum takeoff weight
353:cockpit voice recorder
319:
101:-37.734423; 144.904996
1431:RAAF Boeing 707 crash
1326:Ansett-ANA Flight 149
1318:Ansett-ANA Flight 325
1216:Canal Creek air crash
1176:Canberra air disaster
1042:Nature Air Flight 144
1002:Air France Flight 066
952:Air Canada Flight 759
932:Summit Air Flight 409
317:
241:aircraft operating a
58:during initial climb
1498:Emirates Flight 407
1070:► 2018
1064:2016 ◄
776:. 24 September 2018
298:The aircraft was a
268:The pilot made two
176:King Island Airport
92: /
75:Victoria, Australia
23:
1599:2010s in Melbourne
1283:Maroochy air crash
1067:
584:. 21 February 2017
320:
133:Aircraft type
69:shopping complex,
1586:
1585:
1076:
1075:
235:
234:
223:Ground casualties
167:, Essendon Fields
1631:
1579:
1571:
1563:
1544:
1536:
1528:
1509:
1501:
1493:
1490:Qantas Flight 72
1485:
1477:
1469:
1461:
1442:
1434:
1415:
1407:
1399:
1380:
1372:
1364:
1356:
1337:
1329:
1321:
1313:
1305:
1286:
1278:
1259:
1251:
1243:
1235:
1227:
1219:
1211:
1203:
1195:
1187:
1179:
1171:
1152:
1144:
1136:
1133:Kimberley rescue
1128:
1103:
1096:
1089:
1080:
1068:
848:
847:
845:
830:
823:
816:
807:
800:
799:
792:
786:
785:
783:
781:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
743:
734:
725:
719:
718:
716:
714:
698:
692:
691:
689:
687:
672:
666:
665:
663:
661:
649:
643:
642:
640:
638:
623:
617:
616:
614:
612:
600:
594:
593:
591:
589:
574:
568:
567:
565:
563:
548:
542:
541:
539:
537:
521:
510:
509:
507:
505:
490:
484:
483:
481:
479:
464:
458:
457:
455:
453:
437:
428:
427:
425:
423:
417:
409:
385:
376:
251:Essendon Airport
165:Essendon Airport
112:Total fatalities
107:
106:
104:
103:
102:
97:
93:
90:
89:
88:
85:
47:21 February 2017
31:
24:
1639:
1638:
1634:
1633:
1632:
1630:
1629:
1628:
1589:
1588:
1587:
1582:
1574:
1566:
1558:
1547:
1539:
1531:
1523:
1512:
1504:
1496:
1488:
1480:
1472:
1464:
1456:
1445:
1437:
1429:
1418:
1410:
1402:
1394:
1383:
1375:
1367:
1359:
1351:
1340:
1332:
1324:
1316:
1308:
1300:
1289:
1281:
1273:
1262:
1254:
1246:
1238:
1230:
1222:
1214:
1208:Rewan air crash
1206:
1198:
1190:
1182:
1174:
1166:
1155:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1123:
1112:
1107:
1077:
1072:
1066:
1057:
1056:
1055:
1054:
1049:
1045:
1044:
1039:
1035:
1034:
1029:
1025:
1024:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1009:
1005:
1004:
999:
995:
994:
989:
985:
984:
979:
975:
974:
969:
965:
964:
959:
955:
954:
949:
945:
944:
939:
935:
934:
929:
925:
924:
919:
915:
914:
909:
905:
904:
899:
895:
894:
889:
885:
884:
879:
875:
874:
869:
865:
864:
859:
849:
843:
841:
836:
834:
804:
803:
794:
793:
789:
779:
777:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
745:
744:
737:
726:
722:
712:
710:
700:
699:
695:
685:
683:
682:. 29 March 2017
674:
673:
669:
659:
657:
651:
650:
646:
636:
634:
625:
624:
620:
610:
608:
602:
601:
597:
587:
585:
576:
575:
571:
561:
559:
550:
549:
545:
535:
533:
523:
522:
513:
503:
501:
492:
491:
487:
477:
475:
466:
465:
461:
451:
449:
439:
438:
431:
421:
419:
415:
411:
410:
399:
394:
389:
388:
377:
373:
368:
336:
312:
296:
266:
228:Ground injuries
100:
98:
94:
91:
86:
83:
81:
79:
78:
77:
71:Essendon Fields
56:Loss of control
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1637:
1635:
1627:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1591:
1590:
1584:
1583:
1581:
1580:
1572:
1564:
1555:
1553:
1549:
1548:
1546:
1545:
1537:
1529:
1520:
1518:
1514:
1513:
1511:
1510:
1502:
1494:
1486:
1478:
1470:
1462:
1453:
1451:
1447:
1446:
1444:
1443:
1435:
1426:
1424:
1420:
1419:
1417:
1416:
1408:
1400:
1391:
1389:
1385:
1384:
1382:
1381:
1373:
1365:
1357:
1348:
1346:
1342:
1341:
1339:
1338:
1330:
1322:
1314:
1306:
1297:
1295:
1291:
1290:
1288:
1287:
1279:
1270:
1268:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1260:
1252:
1244:
1236:
1228:
1220:
1212:
1204:
1196:
1188:
1180:
1172:
1163:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1153:
1145:
1137:
1129:
1120:
1118:
1114:
1113:
1108:
1106:
1105:
1098:
1091:
1083:
1074:
1073:
1062:
1059:
1058:
1050:
1047:
1046:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1030:
1027:
1026:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1010:
1007:
1006:
1000:
997:
996:
990:
987:
986:
980:
977:
976:
970:
967:
966:
960:
957:
956:
950:
947:
946:
940:
937:
936:
930:
927:
926:
920:
917:
916:
910:
907:
906:
900:
897:
896:
890:
887:
886:
880:
877:
876:
870:
867:
866:
860:
857:
856:
855:
854:
851:
850:
835:
833:
832:
825:
818:
810:
802:
801:
787:
761:
735:
730:Radio National
720:
693:
667:
644:
618:
595:
569:
543:
511:
485:
459:
429:
396:
395:
393:
390:
387:
386:
370:
369:
367:
364:
335:
332:
311:
308:
295:
292:
278:Daniel Andrews
265:
262:
233:
232:
229:
225:
224:
220:
219:
216:
212:
211:
208:
204:
203:
200:
196:
195:
192:
188:
187:
184:
180:
179:
173:
169:
168:
162:
158:
157:
154:
148:
147:
144:
140:
139:
134:
130:
129:
125:
124:
121:
120:Total injuries
117:
116:
113:
109:
108:
64:
60:
59:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
36:
35:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1636:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1596:
1594:
1577:
1573:
1569:
1565:
1561:
1557:
1556:
1554:
1550:
1542:
1538:
1534:
1530:
1526:
1522:
1521:
1519:
1515:
1507:
1503:
1499:
1495:
1491:
1487:
1483:
1479:
1475:
1471:
1467:
1463:
1459:
1455:
1454:
1452:
1448:
1440:
1436:
1432:
1428:
1427:
1425:
1421:
1413:
1409:
1405:
1401:
1397:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1386:
1378:
1374:
1370:
1366:
1362:
1358:
1354:
1350:
1349:
1347:
1343:
1335:
1331:
1327:
1323:
1319:
1315:
1311:
1307:
1303:
1299:
1298:
1296:
1292:
1284:
1280:
1276:
1272:
1271:
1269:
1265:
1257:
1253:
1249:
1245:
1241:
1237:
1233:
1229:
1225:
1221:
1217:
1213:
1209:
1205:
1201:
1197:
1193:
1189:
1185:
1181:
1177:
1173:
1169:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1158:
1150:
1146:
1142:
1138:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1122:
1121:
1119:
1115:
1111:
1104:
1099:
1097:
1092:
1090:
1085:
1084:
1081:
1071:
1065:
1060:
1053:
1043:
1033:
1023:
1013:
1003:
993:
983:
973:
963:
953:
943:
933:
923:
913:
903:
893:
883:
873:
863:
852:
839:
831:
826:
824:
819:
817:
812:
811:
808:
797:
791:
788:
775:
771:
765:
762:
749:
742:
740:
736:
732:
731:
724:
721:
709:
708:
703:
697:
694:
681:
677:
671:
668:
655:
648:
645:
633:
629:
622:
619:
606:
599:
596:
583:
579:
573:
570:
557:
553:
547:
544:
531:
527:
520:
518:
516:
512:
499:
495:
489:
486:
474:
470:
463:
460:
448:
447:
442:
436:
434:
430:
414:
408:
406:
404:
402:
398:
391:
382:
375:
372:
365:
363:
360:
358:
354:
349:
345:
341:
334:Investigation
333:
331:
329:
325:
316:
309:
307:
305:
301:
293:
291:
287:
284:
281:
279:
275:
271:
263:
261:
258:
257:, Australia.
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
230:
226:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
174:
170:
166:
163:
161:Flight origin
159:
155:
153:
149:
145:
141:
138:
135:
131:
126:
122:
118:
114:
110:
105:
76:
72:
68:
65:
61:
57:
54:
50:
46:
42:
37:
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274:DFO Essendon
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152:Registration
67:DFO Essendon
18:
754:24 February
660:22 February
656:. Nine News
637:22 February
611:22 February
588:21 February
562:21 February
536:21 February
504:21 February
498:News.com.au
478:22 February
452:21 February
247:King Island
172:Destination
99: /
87:144°54′18″E
1593:Categories
1184:Little Eva
680:abc.net.au
632:Herald Sun
392:References
304:registered
207:Fatalities
191:Passengers
84:37°44′04″S
556:NZ Herald
344:trim tabs
310:Aftermath
255:Melbourne
215:Survivors
183:Occupants
774:BBC News
713:15 April
686:15 April
582:SBS News
294:Aircraft
264:Accident
143:Operator
128:Aircraft
39:Accident
842: (
840:in 2017
473:The Age
381:g-force
243:charter
52:Summary
1578:(2023)
1570:(2023)
1562:(2020)
1543:(2017)
1535:(2017)
1527:(2012)
1508:(2009)
1500:(2009)
1492:(2008)
1484:(2005)
1476:(2003)
1468:(2000)
1460:(2000)
1441:(1994)
1433:(1991)
1414:(1989)
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1048:Dec 31
1038:Dec 31
1028:Dec 13
1018:Nov 15
1008:Oct 14
998:Sep 30
978:Aug 11
968:Jul 21
958:Jul 10
928:May 27
918:Mar 28
908:Mar 20
898:Mar 14
888:Mar 10
868:Feb 21
858:Jan 16
270:mayday
156:VH-ZCR
1552:2020s
1517:2010s
1450:2000s
1423:1990s
1388:1980s
1345:1970s
1294:1960s
1267:1950s
1160:1940s
1117:1930s
988:Sep 8
948:Jul 7
938:Jun 7
878:Mar 8
416:(PDF)
366:Notes
844:2017
782:2018
756:2017
715:2017
688:2017
662:2017
639:2017
613:2017
590:2017
564:2017
538:2017
506:2017
480:2017
454:2017
424:2018
348:slip
199:Crew
63:Site
44:Date
253:in
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