09-07-2025
Avalon Airshow crash preliminary investigation suggests mid-air stunt attempted too low
An aerobatic pilot who was seriously injured when his plane crashed at the Avalon Airshow earlier this year may have attempted the mid-air stunt too low to the ground, a preliminary investigation has found.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a preliminary report into the incident, which happened in front of thousands of horrified onlookers at the Avalon Australian International Airshow near Geelong.
An aerobatic aircraft, a Pitts S1 11X, crashed into the ground after performing a loop as part of a display on the first public day of the airshow in March.
The plane's sole occupant, the pilot, survived but was seriously injured.
Investigators were able to recover video footage from inside the cockpit, which the ATSB said showed the loop was attempted from a lower altitude than it had been in previous practice runs, which were also filmed.
Footage published by the ATSB shows the plane's altimeter visible from a camera fixed inside the cockpit.
Investigators suggested the "triple avalanche" manoeuvre — a loop with three snap rolls — began at around 100 feet (about 30 metres) above runway height, when in previous training flights the pilot had started it at 200 feet (61 metres).
The pilot began the back half of the loop at a significantly lower altitude than in training runs, at around 700-800 feet (213-244 metres) rather than the usual 1,000 feet (305 metres), the report said.
It then collided with the ground — no spectators were injured.
No defects had been found with the plane so far, the report said.
"We've examined the wreckage and we found no evidence of pre-impact defects," investigator Angus Baxter said.
"The flight controls were all intact and connected … we've also identified the flight instruments and recovered those as part of our onsite investigation, we'll be attempting to download any data that might be on those flight instruments," Mr Baxter said.
"This is a preliminary report and the investigation is still ongoing, we will be reviewing multiple angles of video evidence that we have received to see if we can determine any of the key elements of the flight path … throughout the manoeuvre."
The pilot aged in his 50s, Glenn Collins, survived but was hospitalised with serious injuries.
The ATSB noted Mr Collins had more than 2,000 flying hours and all relevant qualifications and practices needed for the manoeuvre ahead of the Avalon Airshow performance.
In late May, the organisation in charge of the display, Paul Bennet Airshows, posted on social media that Mr Collins was continuing to "progress positively" after being seriously injured in a crash.
In a May post on a crowdfunding platform, Mr Collins said he had suffered "life-changing" spinal injuries and was yet to recover full feelings in his legs and waist.
"To the pyrotechnic team who acted so quickly and bravely to get me out of the wreckage — thank you for your courage," he said.
"To the healthcare professionals who continue to care for me with such skill and kindness — your dedication is deeply appreciated."
