Major emergency response after plane crash in Malabaine, killing pilot

A pilot has been killed in a light plane crash in WA’s Wheatbelt.

Emergency crews responded to the incident, involving an amateur-built replica Spitfire aircraft, in Malabaine, north of Northam, about 10.50am Wednesday.

DFES, St John Ambulance and WA Police responded to the crash.

The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was found dead at the scene.

Police say the plane is believed to have been found in bushland off Great Eastern Highway, with the nearest cross street being Yilgarn Avenue.

The Northam airport is a few kilometres from where the plane is understood to have crashed.

Police say a report will now be prepared for the coroner.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed Wednesday afternoon it is investigating the crash of the plane, which it says was being used for a “private flight when it collided with terrain”.

“The ATSB has deployed a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra offices, specialising in aircraft maintenance and engineering, and materials analysis,” the national transport safety investigator said in a statement.

“They will arrive on site on Thursday, and over coming days will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components of interest for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.”

Investigators will interview witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including any available flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records and weather information.

Members of the public with footage of the flight, crash or aftermath, is urged to contact the agency here.

The ATSB is expected to publish a preliminary report in about eight weeks, with a final report to be released when the investigation haws concluded.

Any critical safety issues will be flagged immediately, the agency said.