Pilot John Stephenson, 77, died when his amateur-built plane crashed into a Chelsea laneway in October, clipping homes and cars before bursting into flames.
It can also be revealed he led a colorful life that included time as a police officer, one game for Carlton and a stint in jail for stealing more than $3 million from clients of his Frankston law practice.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation into the Chelsea crash found Mr Stephenson’s plane, built in 1999 and registered in 2003, also crashed in 2007 and 2010.
A month before the fatal accident, the plane caught fire while taxiing at Moorabbin Airport.
Witnesses helped extinguish the blaze but after inspecting aircraft, the pilot “reported to friends that there appeared to be no damage”, the ATSB found.
The Van’s RV-6A’s engine was replaced in 2007 after midair engine failure caused a “forced landing”, and again in 2010 when the nose collapsed and the propeller hit the ground.
ATSB records show the RV-6A was the amateur model most commonly involved in accidents, with 20 between 1988 and 2010.
But investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fatal crash, with flight data suggesting the engine was working normally during most of the three-minute flight.
“Work is ongoing to explain a decrease in engine oil pressure about seven seconds before the end of the recorded data,” the report said.
The plane was traveling at 370km/h before a “steep nose-down” impact with the lane.
Mr Stephenson was hailed as a hero for avoiding hurting anyone else.
When Mr Stephenson was jailed and struck off as a lawyer in 1996, Supreme Court judge George Hampel said he was “a very good family man” who made full admissions about misappropriating more than $3 million.
The money was taken from trust accounts between 1988 and 1994 when property deals soured and he was threatened by business partners.
He also played one senior game for Carlton in 1958.
The amateur pilot had nearly 1700 hours of flying experience, with 17 hours in the air in his last six months.
The ATSB’s investigation is due to be completed in March.
Story, Video and Photos: http://www.heraldsun.com.au
Accident Report: http://www.atsb.gov.au
Collision with terrain involving an amateur built aircraft, Van's RV-6A, VH-JON, Chelsea, SE Melbourne, Vic. on 14 October 2014
Investigation number: AO-2014-164
Investigation status: Active
Investigation in progress
Summary
The information contained in this web update is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and is derived from the initial investigation of the occurrence. Readers are cautioned that new evidence will become available as the investigation progresses that will enhance the ATSB's understanding of the accident as outlined in this web update. As such, no analysis or findings are included in this update.
History of the flight
On 14 October 2014, at 1321 Eastern Daylight-saving time,[1] the pilot of an amateur‑built Van’s RV-6A aircraft, registered VH-JON and being operated in the ‘Experimental Category’, reported taxiing for a local flight at Moorabbin Airport, Victoria. The aircraft was subsequently cleared by air traffic control for take-off from runway 17 Right at 1323 and to maintain runway heading to depart the control zone to the south. The aircraft was then observed on Airservices Australia surveillance radar climbing to 2,900 ft above mean sea level (AMSL) and tracking southbound via the coast, in accordance with the published departure procedures for Moorabbin Airport. After 1326:07 no further radar returns were received from the aircraft.
The aircraft was observed by witnesses descending rapidly before impacting the ground next to a house in the suburb of Chelsea, 8 km to the south of Moorabbin. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and the pilot was fatally injured.
There were a number of small post-impact fires started by the accident that were subsequently extinguished by members of the public and the fire brigade. A number of houses and several cars also sustained significant damage as a result of the accident.
http://www.atsb.gov.au
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