Two killed and ten injured in Parafield Airport training crash

A flight instructor and a trainee pilot have been killed after a light aircraft crashed into a hangar at Parafield Airport in Adelaide, Australia, moments after take-off.

The four-seat, twin-engine Diamond DA42 had been airborne for less than 20 seconds when it veered sharply and struck a hangar operated by Flight Training Adelaide shortly after 2:00 PM local time on Wednesday.

Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the aircraft rolled abruptly to the left soon after take-off, reaching an inverted position of more than 180 degrees at low altitude before descending steeply into the building. The impact triggered a large fire that caused extensive damage inside the hangar.

The two men on board, aged 24 and 29, died at the scene. Police said ten people inside the hangar, including engineers and students, were injured in the crash and subsequent fire.

Among the injured, a 55-year-old man from Underdale sustained life-threatening burns and was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital. Two others were reported to be in a serious condition. Several more suffered minor injuries or were treated for smoke inhalation after being caught inside a classroom affected by the impact.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell described the scene as catastrophic, noting that both investigators and first responders were confronted with severe destruction inside the hangar.

“It’s quite a catastrophic scene inside that hangar this morning that my investigators were greeted with, but equally, for those that responded first on the scene yesterday, it would have been quite a horrific situation to be encountered with,” he said.

At least two aircraft inside the hangar were destroyed along with the crashed plane. Firefighters faced thick black smoke and intense flames, fuelled by aviation fuel stored within the facility. Emergency crews also encountered difficulties after the crash damaged the hangar’s fire hydrant system, limiting access to water.

Despite these challenges, the blaze was brought under control within a short period. More than 100 students and staff were evacuated from the site. Authorities confirmed that the airport remained closed on Thursday as investigations continued.

Investigators have begun collecting evidence, including CCTV footage, mobile phone recordings and witness statements, to reconstruct the sequence of events. Wreckage from the aircraft is expected to be transported to Canberra for detailed examination.

Mr Mitchell said the inquiry would examine multiple factors, including potential mechanical issues, pilot input and the operational context of the training flight.

“Whether it’s mechanical, whether it’s input, whether it was the actual operation, and what was undergoing in the training circumstances, they’re all questions that we’ll have to start answering over the next couple of days,” he said.

The investigation will also seek to determine the aircraft’s flight path, altitude and speed prior to impact.

South Australia Police confirmed that the crash was the second incident at Parafield Airport this year, following a separate training accident in January in which a trainee pilot crashed during take-off.

The ATSB said a preliminary report into Wednesday’s crash is expected within six to eight weeks.