What happened
The incident occurred during a night flight when the pilot was attempting to land at Essendon Airport in Melbourne. Visibility was severely reduced by heavy fog, prompting the pilot to fly over the city in search of an alternate landing site. The pilot selected the Malvern Oval as a potential emergency landing area. During the approach, the aircraft collided with the spire of St. George's Anglican church before crashing to the ground.
Findings
The impact caused significant structural damage, resulting in the destruction of the airframe. Both individuals on board sustained injuries in the crash. The primary operational challenge cited was the poor visibility conditions that necessitated the deviation from the planned airport landing.