Fatal Plane Crash Near West Sale Airport: Pilot Training Deficiencies Uncovered

A tragic light plane crash in November 2024 near West Sale Airport in Victoria's Gippsland resulted in the deaths of pilot Luke Smith, 20, his brother Benny, 16, and cousin Dustin Daly, 15. The aircraft, piloted by Smith, stalled before crashing.

Investigation Findings

The Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) released its report on the incident in January, identifying multiple deficiencies in the instruction Smith received at Adventure Flight Training (AFT). AFT was accredited by Recreational Aviation Australia (RA Aus), which oversees 3,500 planes and 160 affiliated flight schools nationally.

Recreational Aviation Australia (RA Aus) stated it was aware of issues at Adventure Flight Training (AFT) prior to the accident and had taken actions, noting that the involved instructor is no longer operational with the organization.

Revealed Training Deficiencies

The ATSB's investigation into Smith's flight instructor exam, administered by his school in January 2024, revealed significant problems. The online multiple-choice exam had 'A' as the default correct answer for all questions. Smith initially scored 94 percent, but RA Aus re-marked the exam, finding his actual score to be 26 percent. A month later, Smith retook the exam, scoring 76 percent, below the 80 percent pass mark, with no record of further attempts.

Additionally, the ATSB found that Smith had not received adequate training or testing regarding the risks associated with slow, steep turns, which were relevant to the crash sequence.

Industry Concerns Emerge

Lorraine MacGillivray, a flight instructor for 15 years, expressed the view that the exam process was insufficient for evaluating a pilot's flying ability. She added that systemic issues in flight training contributed to the accident, particularly concerning standardization and the demand for fast-tracked licenses.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that the accident