Latest news with #JackMiller
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Crash that killed young pilot caused by low-speed stall in gusty winds: ATSB
A fatal stall just 150 feet above the ground claimed the life of a young Victorian pilot last year, with investigators now confirming wind gusts and low airspeed left him no chance to recover. The tragic incident occurred on the morning of October 22, 2024, as Jack Miller, 20, attempted a private flight from Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome to Lethbridge in Victoria. A new Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found that Mr Miller was flying a Cessna 150 when the aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff in strong, gusty winds at Bacchus Marsh, northwest of Melbourne, fatally injuring the young pilot. According to the ATSB final report released on Thursday, Mr Miller initially rejected a first takeoff attempt from runway 27 and broadcast this over the common traffic advisory frequency but gave no reason for the decision. Shortly afterwards, he returned to the end of the same runway and initiated a second takeoff. After becoming airborne, the aircraft climbed to about 150 feet before pitching steeply nose-up. Witnesses then saw the nose and left wing drop as the aircraft entered a vertical descent and crashed into a paddock beside the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and Mr Miller, who was the sole occupant, died at the scene. The investigation did not find any mechanical issues with the aircraft or evidence of pilot incapacitation. Instead, the ATSB concluded the Cessna was likely too slow on takeoff for the prevailing wind conditions, and control inputs to counteract the crosswind probably increased the angle of attack on the left wing. '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.' Mr Mitchell said while aerodynamic stalls could happen at any altitude or airspeed, they were most hazardous during takeoff and landing. 'When gusting conditions are present, pilots should consider waiting for more benign conditions,' he said. 'Guidance advises pilots to conduct their own testing in progressively higher winds to determine both their own capability and that of the aircraft. 'If pilots judge weather to be suitable, they should consider climbing out at a higher airspeed to provide a buffer above their aircraft's stall speed for detection and correction of an impending stall.' The report highlighted that Mr Miller had more than 180 hours of flight experience, including just less than four hours in the Cessna 150, and had recently joined the Bacchus Marsh Aero Club. Weather on the day was estimated to include winds of 10 knots gusting up to 30 knots, with strong crosswind components likely present at takeoff. The ATSB said the accident underscored the importance of maintaining adequate airspeed margins and being mindful of crosswind effects during takeoff, especially in turbulent conditions. After the crash last year, Mr Miller's devastated sister, Nicole Miller, told 7News her brother had always dreamt of becoming a pilot, describing him as her 'hero'. He earnt his pilot's licence earlier in 2024, just months before the crash. '(He was) always watching all the old war movies with the planes that would take off, he would soak up everything that he saw,' Ms Miller said. She said her brother was a 'caring, kind-hearted' young man who was just shy of his 21st birthday. 'Whatever happened doesn't change the outcome at the end of the day,' she said. 'We still don't have him, and nothing will ever fix the place he had in our lives.'
ABC News
10-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
ATSB finds strong wind, low speed but no aircraft fault before fatal Bacchus Marsh crash
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."
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Reason for young pilot's death revealed
A fatal stall just 150 feet above the ground claimed the life of a young Victorian pilot last year, with investigators now confirming wind gusts and low airspeed left him no chance to recover. The tragic incident occurred on the morning of October 22, 2024, as Jack Miller, 20, attempted a private flight from Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome to Lethbridge in Victoria. A new Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found that Mr Miller was flying a Cessna 150 when the aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff in strong, gusty winds at Bacchus Marsh, northwest of Melbourne, fatally injuring the young pilot. Jack Miller with his grandmother. Credit: Supplied According to the ATSB final report released on Thursday, Mr Miller initially rejected a first takeoff attempt from runway 27 and broadcast this over the common traffic advisory frequency but gave no reason for the decision. Shortly afterwards, he returned to the end of the same runway and initiated a second takeoff. After becoming airborne, the aircraft climbed to about 150 feet before pitching steeply nose-up. Witnesses then saw the nose and left wing drop as the aircraft entered a vertical descent and crashed into a paddock beside the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and Mr Miller, who was the sole occupant, died at the scene. The aircraft climbed to about 150 feet before crashing into a paddock. ATSB Credit: News Corp Australia The investigation did not find any mechanical issues with the aircraft or evidence of pilot incapacitation. Instead, the ATSB concluded the Cessna was likely too slow on takeoff for the prevailing wind conditions, and control inputs to counteract the crosswind probably increased the angle of attack on the left wing. '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.' The investigation did not find any mechanical issues with the aircraft. ATSB Credit: Supplied Mr Mitchell said while aerodynamic stalls could happen at any altitude or airspeed, they were most hazardous during takeoff and landing. 'When gusting conditions are present, pilots should consider waiting for more benign conditions,' he said. 'Guidance advises pilots to conduct their own testing in progressively higher winds to determine both their own capability and that of the aircraft. 'If pilots judge weather to be suitable, they should consider climbing out at a higher airspeed to provide a buffer above their aircraft's stall speed for detection and correction of an impending stall.' The report highlighted that Mr Miller had more than 180 hours of flight experience, including just less than four hours in the Cessna 150, and had recently joined the Bacchus Marsh Aero Club. Weather on the day was estimated to include winds of 10 knots gusting up to 30 knots, with strong crosswind components likely present at takeoff. The ATSB said the accident underscored the importance of maintaining adequate airspeed margins and being mindful of crosswind effects during takeoff, especially in turbulent conditions. The Cessna 150 stalled shortly after takeoff in strong, gusty winds. Bacchus Marsh Aero Club Credit: News Corp Australia After the crash last year, Mr Miller's devastated sister, Nicole Miller, told 7News her brother had always dreamt of becoming a pilot, describing him as her 'hero'. He earnt his pilot's licence earlier in 2024, just months before the crash. '(He was) always watching all the old war movies with the planes that would take off, he would soak up everything that he saw,' Ms Miller said. She said her brother was a 'caring, kind-hearted' young man who was just shy of his 21st birthday. 'Whatever happened doesn't change the outcome at the end of the day,' she said. 'We still don't have him, and nothing will ever fix the place he had in our lives.'
The Advertiser
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Miller strengthens his case as Bezzechi wins British GP
Having returned to Yamaha at the start of the season, Australian Jack Miller's avowed intention is to stay with the team beyond the end of the year and he did much to strengthen his cause at a chaotic British MotoGP at Silverstone. Amid the all crashes and restarts, the Townsville-born racer steered himself to seventh place, having at one point been challenging for the lead. The race was won by Aprilia's Marco Bezzechi, his team's first victory of the season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill and later saw riders crashing or retiring while in the lead, including Fabio Quartararo. Miller, who previously rode for Yamaha between 2018-20, has already said he would "love to keep going" with the Prima Pramac Racing team beyond 2025. But after claiming a top-five finish in the first three Grand Prix, he had hit a dip in form. The 30-year-old did not finish any of the last three races and most recently crashed out of the lead of the French Grand Prix. That pushed him down to 17th in the standings. But third place in Friday's practice at Silverstone, followed by sixth in qualifying 24 hours later, pointed at a recovery, and Sunday's battling display moved him up a place to 16th. That came hours after he received the boost of being named as a Yamaha rider for the Suzuka 8 Hours race. It will be the first time Yamaha have fielded an official team at the iconic endurance event since 2019. "It's obviously a massive honour for me to be able to represent Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year," Miller said. "It's a race I've been wanting to go back to since 2017 when I finished fourth (with Honda), losing to Yamaha that time." Back at Silverstone, LCR Honda's Johann Zarco chased Bezzechi to the chequered flag and Ducati's Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the world championship. Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while polesitter Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire due to an issue with his bike. Bezzecchi's victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the last 11 races. "It's amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. Aprilia trusted in me and we worked really hard," Bezzecchi said. "The team made a wonderful job... I was waiting for a day like this since my last win." Having returned to Yamaha at the start of the season, Australian Jack Miller's avowed intention is to stay with the team beyond the end of the year and he did much to strengthen his cause at a chaotic British MotoGP at Silverstone. Amid the all crashes and restarts, the Townsville-born racer steered himself to seventh place, having at one point been challenging for the lead. The race was won by Aprilia's Marco Bezzechi, his team's first victory of the season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill and later saw riders crashing or retiring while in the lead, including Fabio Quartararo. Miller, who previously rode for Yamaha between 2018-20, has already said he would "love to keep going" with the Prima Pramac Racing team beyond 2025. But after claiming a top-five finish in the first three Grand Prix, he had hit a dip in form. The 30-year-old did not finish any of the last three races and most recently crashed out of the lead of the French Grand Prix. That pushed him down to 17th in the standings. But third place in Friday's practice at Silverstone, followed by sixth in qualifying 24 hours later, pointed at a recovery, and Sunday's battling display moved him up a place to 16th. That came hours after he received the boost of being named as a Yamaha rider for the Suzuka 8 Hours race. It will be the first time Yamaha have fielded an official team at the iconic endurance event since 2019. "It's obviously a massive honour for me to be able to represent Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year," Miller said. "It's a race I've been wanting to go back to since 2017 when I finished fourth (with Honda), losing to Yamaha that time." Back at Silverstone, LCR Honda's Johann Zarco chased Bezzechi to the chequered flag and Ducati's Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the world championship. Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while polesitter Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire due to an issue with his bike. Bezzecchi's victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the last 11 races. "It's amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. Aprilia trusted in me and we worked really hard," Bezzecchi said. "The team made a wonderful job... I was waiting for a day like this since my last win." Having returned to Yamaha at the start of the season, Australian Jack Miller's avowed intention is to stay with the team beyond the end of the year and he did much to strengthen his cause at a chaotic British MotoGP at Silverstone. Amid the all crashes and restarts, the Townsville-born racer steered himself to seventh place, having at one point been challenging for the lead. The race was won by Aprilia's Marco Bezzechi, his team's first victory of the season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill and later saw riders crashing or retiring while in the lead, including Fabio Quartararo. Miller, who previously rode for Yamaha between 2018-20, has already said he would "love to keep going" with the Prima Pramac Racing team beyond 2025. But after claiming a top-five finish in the first three Grand Prix, he had hit a dip in form. The 30-year-old did not finish any of the last three races and most recently crashed out of the lead of the French Grand Prix. That pushed him down to 17th in the standings. But third place in Friday's practice at Silverstone, followed by sixth in qualifying 24 hours later, pointed at a recovery, and Sunday's battling display moved him up a place to 16th. That came hours after he received the boost of being named as a Yamaha rider for the Suzuka 8 Hours race. It will be the first time Yamaha have fielded an official team at the iconic endurance event since 2019. "It's obviously a massive honour for me to be able to represent Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year," Miller said. "It's a race I've been wanting to go back to since 2017 when I finished fourth (with Honda), losing to Yamaha that time." Back at Silverstone, LCR Honda's Johann Zarco chased Bezzechi to the chequered flag and Ducati's Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the world championship. Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while polesitter Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire due to an issue with his bike. Bezzecchi's victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the last 11 races. "It's amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. Aprilia trusted in me and we worked really hard," Bezzecchi said. "The team made a wonderful job... I was waiting for a day like this since my last win." Having returned to Yamaha at the start of the season, Australian Jack Miller's avowed intention is to stay with the team beyond the end of the year and he did much to strengthen his cause at a chaotic British MotoGP at Silverstone. Amid the all crashes and restarts, the Townsville-born racer steered himself to seventh place, having at one point been challenging for the lead. The race was won by Aprilia's Marco Bezzechi, his team's first victory of the season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill and later saw riders crashing or retiring while in the lead, including Fabio Quartararo. Miller, who previously rode for Yamaha between 2018-20, has already said he would "love to keep going" with the Prima Pramac Racing team beyond 2025. But after claiming a top-five finish in the first three Grand Prix, he had hit a dip in form. The 30-year-old did not finish any of the last three races and most recently crashed out of the lead of the French Grand Prix. That pushed him down to 17th in the standings. But third place in Friday's practice at Silverstone, followed by sixth in qualifying 24 hours later, pointed at a recovery, and Sunday's battling display moved him up a place to 16th. That came hours after he received the boost of being named as a Yamaha rider for the Suzuka 8 Hours race. It will be the first time Yamaha have fielded an official team at the iconic endurance event since 2019. "It's obviously a massive honour for me to be able to represent Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year," Miller said. "It's a race I've been wanting to go back to since 2017 when I finished fourth (with Honda), losing to Yamaha that time." Back at Silverstone, LCR Honda's Johann Zarco chased Bezzechi to the chequered flag and Ducati's Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the world championship. Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while polesitter Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire due to an issue with his bike. Bezzecchi's victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the last 11 races. "It's amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. Aprilia trusted in me and we worked really hard," Bezzecchi said. "The team made a wonderful job... I was waiting for a day like this since my last win."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Miller strengthens his case as Bezzechi wins British GP
Having returned to Yamaha at the start of the season, Australian Jack Miller's avowed intention is to stay with the team beyond the end of the year and he did much to strengthen his cause at a chaotic British MotoGP at Silverstone. Amid the all crashes and restarts, the Townsville-born racer steered himself to seventh place, having at one point been challenging for the lead. The race was won by Aprilia's Marco Bezzechi, his team's first victory of the season in a race that was initially red-flagged for an oil spill and later saw riders crashing or retiring while in the lead, including Fabio Quartararo. Miller, who previously rode for Yamaha between 2018-20, has already said he would "love to keep going" with the Prima Pramac Racing team beyond 2025. But after claiming a top-five finish in the first three Grand Prix, he had hit a dip in form. The 30-year-old did not finish any of the last three races and most recently crashed out of the lead of the French Grand Prix. That pushed him down to 17th in the standings. But third place in Friday's practice at Silverstone, followed by sixth in qualifying 24 hours later, pointed at a recovery, and Sunday's battling display moved him up a place to 16th. A new dream team in the making 💯The factory 'Yamaha Racing Team' will #RiseUP this year with @jackmilleraus joining Katsuyuki Nakasuga to take on the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours 🔥🔝#YamahaFactoryRacing | #RevsYourHeart | #FIMEWC — ヤマハ発動機レース情報 (@yamaha_race) May 25, 2025 That came hours after he received the boost of being named as a Yamaha rider for the Suzuka 8 Hours race. It will be the first time Yamaha have fielded an official team at the iconic endurance event since 2019. "It's obviously a massive honour for me to be able to represent Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year," Miller said. "It's a race I've been wanting to go back to since 2017 when I finished fourth (with Honda), losing to Yamaha that time." Back at Silverstone, LCR Honda's Johann Zarco chased Bezzechi to the chequered flag and Ducati's Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the world championship. Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while polesitter Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire due to an issue with his bike. Bezzecchi's victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the last 11 races. "It's amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in this past month. Aprilia trusted in me and we worked really hard," Bezzecchi said. "The team made a wonderful job... I was waiting for a day like this since my last win."
