The following statement can be attributed to ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell:
“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced a transport safety investigation into a collision with terrain accident during an aerobatic display at Avalon Airport, during the Avalon Airshow, on Friday afternoon.
“The ATSB is deploying a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra office, specialising in aircraft operations and maintenance.
“Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
“Investigators will also seek to interview any involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including available flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
“The ATSB asks anyone with video footage of the aircraft at any phase of the flight, or in the immediate aftermath of the accident, to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity."