The scene of Saturday's fatal light plane crash at Caboolture.
The scene of Saturday's fatal light plane crash at Caboolture. Photo: Seven News
Four men and a woman were killed yesterday in a fiery plane crash at a Queensland airfield.
A male pilot, two skydiving instructors and two customers died when the Cessna 206 plummeted to the ground shortly after taking off at Caboolture Airport, near Brisbane, about 11.30am.
Moreton police region Superintendent Michael Brady said numerous onlookers had seen the light plane crashed and burst into flames. The plane belonged to local skydiving company, Adrenalin Skydivers Bribie, which specialises in spectacular dives from 4200 metres on to a nearby beach at Bribie Island.
The scene of the crash.
The scene of the crash. Photo: Nine News
But airport safety officer Bryan Carpenter, of Aerodynamic Flight Academy Caboolture, told media the plane had lurched sharply to its left after failing to reach 60 metres, then dived on to a crossing runway.
Witnesses had raced to the scene in the hope of helping those onboard but high-octane fuel meant fire swiftly consumed the wreckage.
Superintendent Brady confirmed the impact of the crash had been ‘‘unsurvivable’’.
Emergency services at the scene of the crash.
Emergency services at the scene of the crash. Photo: Nine News
‘‘It’s a tragedy for all people involved, particularly loved ones and family and of course people on the scene,’’ he said.
He added investigations were continuing into the cause, with both Queensland Police Service forensic investigators and the Air Traffic Safety Bureau combing the remnants of the plane for clues.
Authorities had not released the registration of the ill-fated aircraft yesterday but confirmed the aircraft was a Cessna 206. Fairfax can confirm that Civil Aviation Safety Authority records list Adrenalin Skydivers Pty Ltd as operating a Cessna model U206G, which was nearly 37 years old.
A Caboolture Aero Club spokesman said: ‘‘The aircraft cannot be identified at this time – and I’m standing 50 metres from it.’’
The small Caboolture airfield where the accident occurred sits one hour’s drive north of Brisbane and is well-known to commuters on the Bruce Highway as aircraft can often be viewed landing or taking off just above the road.
Gliders, helicopters and light aircraft are regular fixtures at the site, which has only grass airstrips and is also used by flying instructors. Five years ago popular pilots’ forum the Professional Pilots Rumour Network  featured a running post criticising the airstrip as the ‘‘crappiest airfield’’ in Australia.
The post alleged the airfield was plagued with overgrown grass, bog holes, narrow taxiways and unmarked culverts. It also claimed  there was a permanent hazard caused by ibis and kangaroos.
The same contributor also highlighted other potential issues, including both trees at the end of the south-east runway and powerlines. Another expressed concern about crosswinds, while a different pilot suggested the airfield was ‘‘cheaper’’ for pilots to use than other more developed runways in the region.
But a Caboolture Aero Club spokesman said there was no suggestion yesterday’s tragedy could be tied to the airfield. ‘‘It’s an uncontrolled airport with unsealed runways and, yes, there are kangaroos and birds," he said.
However, he stressed the airfield safety surveyor who assesses the field each year  had labelled it ‘‘the best airfield on the east coast’’.