ATSB finds strong wind, low speed but no aircraft fault before fatal Bacchus Marsh crash

Australia Broadcast Center

10-07-2025

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into a pilot's death has found no "issues" with his Cessna 150 light aircraft that crashed in a paddock in October.
Seaford man Jack Miller, 20, died soon after his plane took off from Bacchus Marsh aerodrome, north-west of Melbourne, on October 22.
A preliminary report from the ATSB found there were "strong and gusty wind conditions" on the day and the aircraft stalled at a low height before crashing into a paddock in Parwan, west of Melbourne.
In the final report, released on Thursday, the ATSB found Mr Miller aborted his first take-off before the plane left the ground, advising the aerodrome.
He did not provide further information as to why he aborted but after leaving the runway a second time, the Cessna climbed to 46 metres before pitching steeply nose-up.
Witnesses then saw the left wing drop before the plane fell into a paddock next to the airfield.
Mr Miller died at the scene.
A 10-month investigation could not identify any problems with the Cessna 150.
A post-mortem examination also did not find evidence of any substances or other contributors that might have affected Mr Miller's capacity.
The report concluded the aircraft was too slow on take-off and strong wind conditions led to the crash.
'These factors, combined with the wind conditions, increased the risk of a quick and unrecoverable stall,' ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
'The stall occurred too close to the ground for the aircraft to be recovered from."