Police near the scene of the fatal plane crash in Renmark. Picture: Greg Higgs

An SA Police search party found the plane wreckage about 4km west of the aerodrome at 7.10pm last night.

All three people on board the 10-seat Rossair charter plane, which was on a check and training flight, were killed in the crash.

In a statement last night, Rossair confirmed its 37-year-old aircraft had been involved in the fatal crash.

“The loss of company personnel was profound for the families concerned and all company employees,” the statement read.

“The aircraft, a Cessna Conquest, was on a training flight from Adelaide to the Riverland and return.

“The company is seeking to contact all family members involved.

“The company would be working closely with aviation authorities and emergency personnel to determine the cause of the crash.”

Rossair said it would comment further as more information comes to hand.

The incident is the worst plane crash in South Australia since eight people on board a Whyalla Airlines flight were killed when it crashed into the Spencer Gulf on May 31, 2000.

It is believed there was a pilot, an overseer pilot and another person on board during training exercises.

Rossair confirms its plane was involved in the fatal Renmark crash.Source:The Advertiser

A line of inquiry may be whether the crew were undertaking exercises during the takeoff, which could have included a simulated engine failure. These exercises are banned on larger aircraft because they are regarded as too dangerous and because pilots can use simulators.

But the exercises are still done on smaller aircraft where the engine is retarded but not turned off.

The Cessna Conquest 2 took off from Renmark Aerodrome after 4pm and the alarm was raised when the plane activated its emergency beacon about 4.30pm.

An SA Police spokesman confirmed a report by AusSAR (Australian Search and Rescue) of an emergency beacon activation aboard a Cessna Conquest.

Investigators from the SA Police Major Crash Unit were last night making their way to the scene to assist the Australian Transport Safely Bureau in the investigation into the crash.

A rescue helicopter landing at Renmark Aerodrome on Tuesday night. Picture: Murray PioneerSource:Supplied

Around 20 SES members also aided in the search, and more volunteers were requested before the plane wreckage was discovered.

The last time three people were killed in an aviation accident in South Australia was when an ABC helicopter crashed while filming a documentary on flooding at Lake Eyre in August 2011.

Media were last night held at a cordon about 2km from the crash site, which was in sparse scrub kilometres off Santos Rd.

Emergency personnel were using a dirt track through the scrub to access the scene.

The activity log of the plane — which operates with the registration code VH-XMJ — shows that it completed several flights earlier in the day.

It first left Parafield Airport at 7.46am yesterday en route to Beverley uranium mine in the state’s Far North. It then flew back from Beverley to Parafield at 9.13am.

The plane then did another return trip from Parafield to Beverley, before making a five-minute flight from Parafield to Adelaide Airport.

It left Adelaide Airport bound for Renmark at 3.24pm.

The Renmark Aerodrome is unattended, without any air traffic controllers, and relies on pilots co-ordinating landing and takeoff between themselves.
SHOCKED REACTION
News of South Australia’s worst plane crash since the Whyalla Airlines disaster prompted widespread shock.

Premier Jay Weatherill said: “This is tragic news. I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the families of those who have died”.

South Australian Liberal Senator Anne Ruston, who was born in Renmark, tweeted her devastation.

“Horrible, horrible news. My thoughts & prayers with loved ones who have tragically lost family members tonight in a plane crash in Renmark,” she wrote.

Local MP Tim Whetstone said the news was devastating.

“Tragic news to hear three people have lost their lives in a plane crash in Renmark,” he said.

“My warm, heartfelt feelings go out to the family and friends of those involved,” he said.

A regular Adelaide-based Rossair traveller, Phil Egel, also expressed his shock and sadness.

“I fly regularly with this great SA charter company and many times on the plane that went down,” he posted on social media.

“RIP to those who have lost their lives, and sincere sympathies to their families and friends.”

Renmark Paringa Council mayor Neil Martinson said he did not believe the people involved were from the area but could not be certain.

He said training flights regularly came from Parafield, touched down at Renmark, then returned to Adelaide.

Air Services Australia which is responsible for Australia’s airspace management including aviation communications is aware of the disaster.

“We don’t believe there was any contact with air traffic control,” a spokeswoman said.

“We are aware of the incident and at this stage local police and the Air Transport Safety Bureau are investigating.”

HISTORIC COMPANY
Adelaide-based Rossair, established in 1963, is Australia’s second longest continually operating air charter company, after Qantas.

Its fleet ranges from 10-seaters to 30-seat aircraft and it recently branched out into charter tourism services.

Police and SES teams near the scene of the tragic incident. Picture: Greg HiggsSource:News Corp Australia

In Adelaide, flights depart from a private flight lounge at Adelaide Airport where passengers walk straight on to the tarmac.

The company specialises in the oil, gas and mining industries.

In November 2013, it merged with Air South, another South Australia-based charter company.

At that time Rossair’s Belinda Lindh told The Advertiser a focus on safety, cost efficiency and the ability to deliver personnel to outback areas comfortably and efficiently had been the philosophy behind Rossair’s success.

“Rossair had always tended to focus on the 10 seater market while Air South, with its larger 19 seat aircraft, had been more involved in regional fly in fly out operations with a larger number of personnel,” she said at the time of the merger.

“It made a lot of sense to bring the two businesses together formally to allow the group to be able to service both markets better.”

Originally published as Three die in Riverland plane crash