Aviation crash investigators will begin sifting through the wreckage of a light plane that exploded when it slammed into a Sydney street, claiming the lives of its pilot and nurse passenger.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) expects to release a preliminary report into the crash in 30 days' time after examining official automatic voice recordings from Air Services Australia and weather conditions at Richmond.
Pilot Andrew Wilson, 27, and a female nurse died when the Piper PA-31P twin engine plane travelling from Bankstown, in Sydney's southwest, to Brisbane crashed at Canley Vale at 8.10am (AEST) yesterday, about 20 minutes after take-off.
The nurse, whose name has not been officially released, was named by media as Kathy Sheppard, a mother of four from Port Macquarie.
About 40km after taking off from Bankstown Airport, Mr Wilson reported engine problems over the Richmond area, in Sydney's northwest, which may also have been affected by fog.
He turned the plane back to Bankstown and communicated to air traffic controllers that the plane was losing altitude.
The plane struck a power pole as it smashed into the ground and burst into flames next to Canley Vale Public School - about 5km short of the airport.
Seven people, four adults and three children, were taken to Liverpool Hospital suffering emotional distress after witnessing the terrifying scene.
- AAP
Sydney plane crash investigation begins
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
