'The worst we've had them': shock flying fox colony causes power outages
On Tuesday at 5.30am several grey-headed flying foxes flew into wires in Muswellbrook, causing a blackout for 15 minutes across the town.
While neighbouring Singleton has been plagued with bat colonies for 20 years around Burdekin Park, flying foxes have never been seen in such large numbers before in Muswellbrook.
It's believed the flying foxes have been attracted to the area due to an autumn flowering event. The bats eat nectar and pollen from eucalypts.
"We've had minor problems before, but nothing like this," Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton told the Newcastle Herald.
"This is as bad as we've had them. It's estimated there are between 100,000 and 150,000 bats. It's certainly the worst we've had them."
The colony is predominantly roosting in trees along Muscle Creek, which runs through the centre of Muswellbrook between the New England Highway and the railway line and through the golf course.
"Right behind two motels in town is where it's worst," Cr Drayton said. "It's effectively right in the centre of town."
The grey-headed flying fox is listed as vulnerable under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and it's illegal to harm or disturb them.
Muswellbrook Shire Council successfully applied for a threatened species licence from the NSW government, which allowed staff to trim trees last weekend at night.
Cr Drayton said the council had applied for another licence to expand the tree-trimming program along Muscle Creek.
"We trim the trees where they roost, and the idea is there are no branches on the trees, so there's nowhere to roost, and hopefully they move on," he said.
Muswellbrook council is providing free hire of high-pressure water cleaners, as well as washing line and car covers for residents whose properties are covered in bat droppings.
Ausgrid's Upper Hunter field manager, Adam Regan, confirmed there had been two power outages in Muswellbrook and 12 in Aberdeen that had been caused by the flying foxes.
"What we're finding in the Aberdeen area is they're roosting on some of the insulated wires and that's reducing the electrical clearance that's needed and causing the power to flash across to the pole and to short out," Mr Regan said.
"We're finding that some of the rainy, misty fog days are worse than others."
Ausgrid is in the process of upgrading the wires with fibreglass insulation on poles that have been "repeat offenders" in the power outages caused by the bats.
"We've got an engineering team looking at swapping them out for big fibreglass arms to increase the insulation properties and also looking to place some temporary insulation on the actual wires themselves to help insulate the bats from the electricity," Mr Regan said.
It is hoped the flying foxes will leave Muswellbrook and Aberdeen once the autumn flowering season ends.
A colony of an estimated 100,000 flying foxes is wreaking havoc in the Upper Hunter, causing 14 power outages in Muswellbrook and Aberdeen over the past five weeks.
On Tuesday at 5.30am several grey-headed flying foxes flew into wires in Muswellbrook, causing a blackout for 15 minutes across the town.
While neighbouring Singleton has been plagued with bat colonies for 20 years around Burdekin Park, flying foxes have never been seen in such large numbers before in Muswellbrook.
It's believed the flying foxes have been attracted to the area due to an autumn flowering event. The bats eat nectar and pollen from eucalypts.
"We've had minor problems before, but nothing like this," Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton told the Newcastle Herald.
"This is as bad as we've had them. It's estimated there are between 100,000 and 150,000 bats. It's certainly the worst we've had them."
The colony is predominantly roosting in trees along Muscle Creek, which runs through the centre of Muswellbrook between the New England Highway and the railway line and through the golf course.
"Right behind two motels in town is where it's worst," Cr Drayton said. "It's effectively right in the centre of town."
The grey-headed flying fox is listed as vulnerable under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and it's illegal to harm or disturb them.
Muswellbrook Shire Council successfully applied for a threatened species licence from the NSW government, which allowed staff to trim trees last weekend at night.
Cr Drayton said the council had applied for another licence to expand the tree-trimming program along Muscle Creek.
"We trim the trees where they roost, and the idea is there are no branches on the trees, so there's nowhere to roost, and hopefully they move on," he said.
Muswellbrook council is providing free hire of high-pressure water cleaners, as well as washing line and car covers for residents whose properties are covered in bat droppings.
Ausgrid's Upper Hunter field manager, Adam Regan, confirmed there had been two power outages in Muswellbrook and 12 in Aberdeen that had been caused by the flying foxes.
"What we're finding in the Aberdeen area is they're roosting on some of the insulated wires and that's reducing the electrical clearance that's needed and causing the power to flash across to the pole and to short out," Mr Regan said.
"We're finding that some of the rainy, misty fog days are worse than others."
Ausgrid is in the process of upgrading the wires with fibreglass insulation on poles that have been "repeat offenders" in the power outages caused by the bats.
"We've got an engineering team looking at swapping them out for big fibreglass arms to increase the insulation properties and also looking to place some temporary insulation on the actual wires themselves to help insulate the bats from the electricity," Mr Regan said.
It is hoped the flying foxes will leave Muswellbrook and Aberdeen once the autumn flowering season ends.
A colony of an estimated 100,000 flying foxes is wreaking havoc in the Upper Hunter, causing 14 power outages in Muswellbrook and Aberdeen over the past five weeks.
On Tuesday at 5.30am several grey-headed flying foxes flew into wires in Muswellbrook, causing a blackout for 15 minutes across the town.
While neighbouring Singleton has been plagued with bat colonies for 20 years around Burdekin Park, flying foxes have never been seen in such large numbers before in Muswellbrook.
It's believed the flying foxes have been attracted to the area due to an autumn flowering event. The bats eat nectar and pollen from eucalypts.
"We've had minor problems before, but nothing like this," Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton told the Newcastle Herald.
"This is as bad as we've had them. It's estimated there are between 100,000 and 150,000 bats. It's certainly the worst we've had them."
The colony is predominantly roosting in trees along Muscle Creek, which runs through the centre of Muswellbrook between the New England Highway and the railway line and through the golf course.
"Right behind two motels in town is where it's worst," Cr Drayton said. "It's effectively right in the centre of town."
The grey-headed flying fox is listed as vulnerable under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and it's illegal to harm or disturb them.
Muswellbrook Shire Council successfully applied for a threatened species licence from the NSW government, which allowed staff to trim trees last weekend at night.
Cr Drayton said the council had applied for another licence to expand the tree-trimming program along Muscle Creek.
"We trim the trees where they roost, and the idea is there are no branches on the trees, so there's nowhere to roost, and hopefully they move on," he said.
Muswellbrook council is providing free hire of high-pressure water cleaners, as well as washing line and car covers for residents whose properties are covered in bat droppings.
Ausgrid's Upper Hunter field manager, Adam Regan, confirmed there had been two power outages in Muswellbrook and 12 in Aberdeen that had been caused by the flying foxes.
"What we're finding in the Aberdeen area is they're roosting on some of the insulated wires and that's reducing the electrical clearance that's needed and causing the power to flash across to the pole and to short out," Mr Regan said.
"We're finding that some of the rainy, misty fog days are worse than others."
Ausgrid is in the process of upgrading the wires with fibreglass insulation on poles that have been "repeat offenders" in the power outages caused by the bats.
"We've got an engineering team looking at swapping them out for big fibreglass arms to increase the insulation properties and also looking to place some temporary insulation on the actual wires themselves to help insulate the bats from the electricity," Mr Regan said.
It is hoped the flying foxes will leave Muswellbrook and Aberdeen once the autumn flowering season ends.
A colony of an estimated 100,000 flying foxes is wreaking havoc in the Upper Hunter, causing 14 power outages in Muswellbrook and Aberdeen over the past five weeks.
On Tuesday at 5.30am several grey-headed flying foxes flew into wires in Muswellbrook, causing a blackout for 15 minutes across the town.
While neighbouring Singleton has been plagued with bat colonies for 20 years around Burdekin Park, flying foxes have never been seen in such large numbers before in Muswellbrook.
It's believed the flying foxes have been attracted to the area due to an autumn flowering event. The bats eat nectar and pollen from eucalypts.
"We've had minor problems before, but nothing like this," Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton told the Newcastle Herald.
"This is as bad as we've had them. It's estimated there are between 100,000 and 150,000 bats. It's certainly the worst we've had them."
The colony is predominantly roosting in trees along Muscle Creek, which runs through the centre of Muswellbrook between the New England Highway and the railway line and through the golf course.
"Right behind two motels in town is where it's worst," Cr Drayton said. "It's effectively right in the centre of town."
The grey-headed flying fox is listed as vulnerable under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and it's illegal to harm or disturb them.
Muswellbrook Shire Council successfully applied for a threatened species licence from the NSW government, which allowed staff to trim trees last weekend at night.
Cr Drayton said the council had applied for another licence to expand the tree-trimming program along Muscle Creek.
"We trim the trees where they roost, and the idea is there are no branches on the trees, so there's nowhere to roost, and hopefully they move on," he said.
Muswellbrook council is providing free hire of high-pressure water cleaners, as well as washing line and car covers for residents whose properties are covered in bat droppings.
Ausgrid's Upper Hunter field manager, Adam Regan, confirmed there had been two power outages in Muswellbrook and 12 in Aberdeen that had been caused by the flying foxes.
"What we're finding in the Aberdeen area is they're roosting on some of the insulated wires and that's reducing the electrical clearance that's needed and causing the power to flash across to the pole and to short out," Mr Regan said.
"We're finding that some of the rainy, misty fog days are worse than others."
Ausgrid is in the process of upgrading the wires with fibreglass insulation on poles that have been "repeat offenders" in the power outages caused by the bats.
"We've got an engineering team looking at swapping them out for big fibreglass arms to increase the insulation properties and also looking to place some temporary insulation on the actual wires themselves to help insulate the bats from the electricity," Mr Regan said.
It is hoped the flying foxes will leave Muswellbrook and Aberdeen once the autumn flowering season ends.
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The Advertiser
01-08-2025
- The Advertiser
Fears massive rock column was about to collapse onto coastal walkway
A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence. A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence. A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence. A detached South Newcastle beach rock column weighing more than 1000 tonnes shifted almost a metre during heavy rain in May, prompting fears that it may collapse near the newly opened skate park and pathway. A technical report, obtained by the Newcastle Herald via a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) application, said the 10-metre-tall column and the adjacent section of the cliff face were perched on an unstable coal seam below. "... the column has been detached from the main cliff face for many years," the report prepared by Tetra Tech Coffey says. "The detached column rests upon a coal seam that was observed during various phases of construction works for the Bathers Way, the skatepark and the upgrade to the rockfall catchment fence." The cliff face, known as 'Yirannali' by the local Awabakal community, meaning 'place of falling rocks', consists of weathered sandstone and siltstone. It has numerous joints that have weathered over time. Its stability has been the subject of concern for geologists and engineers ever since a 20-tonne rock fell 15 metres onto the Shortland Esplanade in 2002, narrowly missing a security guard. Affectionately known as 'The Rock', the boulder sat unmoved for more than two years while civic leaders debated whether to remove it and how to stabilise the cliff. Since then, three anchors, ranging between two and four metres in length, have been driven into the nearby rock column in an effort to stabilise it. However, they did not penetrate into the cliff face. Ongoing monitoring has shown the column has not shifted for about 10 years. But University of Newcastle researchers detected significant movement during May's extreme weather event. Rainfall records show that Newcastle received the expected monthly rainfall on May 19. "The mechanism for the detachment appears to be primarily softening of the underlying coal seam and associated weak rock, resulting in outward rotation and settlement," the report says. "There is also a wedging effect from the boulder wedged between the cliff face and the detached block." It was concluded that the column's movement represented an elevated risk to nearby public amenities and the Bather's Way shared pathway. The upper promenade was closed on May 31. Contractors subsequently removed the top section of the column and used mechanical and hand scaling to remove loose rock around the area. "The dislodged material, or at least a portion of it, would ideally be left near the toe of the sea cliff to lend a measure of support to the base of the cliff, given that the coal seam extends southward to the point it is truncated by the fault located approximately 15 metres south," the report says. The report noted the removal of the large boulder wedged between the cliff face and column may, in turn, destabilise the upper portion of the cliff behind the column. An assessment was carried out in collaboration with geotechnical experts following the work, and determined that no additional works were needed in the area at this time. City of Newcastle renewed and increased the height of the full length of the rock catch fence from the southern extent of the cliff line to the rear of the skate park amenities building in 2023-24. It also remediated the face of the southern cliff line, with specialists scaling the cliff face to remove loose rocks before installing drainage, shotcrete and additional rock anchors, as well as soft fall to reduce rocks bouncing into the rock catch fence.
West Australian
21-07-2025
- West Australian
Environmentalists opposing Katanning Gold Project ready as public comments open
The environmental group opposing the proposed Katanning gold mine is preparing it submission as public comments open thorugh the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act public portal. The No Mine in Katanning environmentalists said they are studying documents presented by developers Ausgold for the Katanning Gold Project and would have their objections submitted by the time public comments close on the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation website on July 25. The EPBC public portal opened for comments on July 11 and anyone with an opinion has until July 25 to submit their thoughts on the Ausgold plan. The mine is proposed for Badgebup, 30km outside Katanning, and the developers say it could employ up to 350 people. However, the No Mine in Katanning group say they are gathering support from people worried about how it will affect endangered wildlife in the area including Carnaby's black cockatoos and red-tailed phasogales. Documents on the EPBC portal include a fauna survey and risk assessment report by Perth-based environmental consultancy Terrestrial Ecosystems. It put cameras in several locations to record wildlife and found evidence of black cockatoos and phasogales as well as the inland form of the western rosella and western grey kangaroos. It recommended that if there was a referral under the EPBC Act, Ausgold should implement a Vertebrate Fauna Management and Mitigation Plan to outline strategies to minimise the impact on the wildlife and its habitat. A spokesperson for No Mine in Katanning said the mine would severely impact wildlife in the area. 'It is highly likely to have a devastating effect on the natural activities of Carnaby's, red-tailed phascogales and other wildlife,' the spokesperson said. 'Stands of remnant native vegetation within and close to the mine's footprint are Katanning's prime breeding area for endangered Carnaby's black cockatoos. 'They need quiet places to raise their young but this mine, with its 24-7 noise, dust and light pollution, would certainly frighten them away. 'Loss of breeding and food source habitat is the main reason these iconic birds have become endangered, but governments are continuing to allow mining and other developments to destroy crucial habitat.'
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- The Advertiser
First findings released on crash that left Hunter stunt pilot seriously injured
EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage. The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries. His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia". Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre". The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain". The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape. The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level. "During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash. "Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain." The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book. The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening". Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness". The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash. Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors". A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation. "Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said. EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage. The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries. His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia". Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre". The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain". The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape. The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level. "During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash. "Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain." The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book. The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening". Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness". The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash. Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors". A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation. "Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said. EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage. The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries. His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia". Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre". The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain". The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape. The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level. "During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash. "Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain." The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book. The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening". Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness". The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash. Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors". A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation. "Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said. EARLY findings into a Hunter stunt pilot's dramatic crash at an air show in Victoria have found no evidence of pre-flight defects in the plane's flight control system or fuselage. The Newcastle Herald has previously reported Glenn Collins was involved in the crash at Victoria's Avalon Airport during a March air show, suffering serious injuries. His teammates paid tribute to him in the aftermath, saying he was "a father and a friend" who had "thrilled audiences across Australia". Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary findings released on Wednesday said the incident occurred during a "triple avalanche manouvre". The plane performed three snap rolls and stabilised before entering the back half of the loop "however, the aircraft's descent rate was unable to be arrested before it collided with terrain". The impact left a 95-metre "scar" along the landscape. The ATSB findings said the training videos showed the manouvre usually began about 200 feet above ground level. "During entry to the triple avalanche, the indicated airspeed was approximately 165 knots and the altitude was 100 feet," the preliminary findings state, citing footage from the cockpit ahead of the crash. "Just before the aircraft reached its peak altitude, the altimeter was showing 700-800 feet. After this point, the altimeter was blocked from the camera's view by the pilot's body position just prior to the collision with terrain." The investigation found Mr Collins had more than 2200 hours of experience in an up-to-date log book. The area where the plane came to rest was a designated pyrotechnics box where there were "many boxes of fuel positioned ... that were planned to be ignited during the 'wall of fire' display later that evening". Pyrotechnicians who came to his aid "reported the pilot was wearing a five-point safety harness". The investigation has examined the wreckage, interviewed the pilot, and examined recordings of practice flights as well as GoPro footage from within the cockpit ahead of the crash. Ongoing investigations will examine components recovered from the aircraft, its maintenance records, the video recordings, the emergency response plan in play and "survivability factors". A final report will be issued at the end of the investigation. "Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," the regulator said.
