Fatal plane crash near Canberra leaves no survivors, investigation underway

The catastrophic collision occurred on a property in Hadlow Street in Gundaroo in the NSW Southern Tablelands.

NSW Police Superintendent Cath Bradbury confirmed that there were no survivors from the crash, describing it as a "catastrophic collision."

The wreckage of the small single-engine aircraft was discovered after 3 pm. Authorities are currently focused on determining the identities of those on board and the exact number, with investigations still in the early stages.

"We're still working on who was in the plane and how many; we do not know those details at this stage. It is very early in our investigation," said Bradbury. The police will continue working through the night, treating the site as a crime scene.

The crash sparked a small grassfire, swiftly extinguished by the Rural Fire Service. Emergency services were alerted by a local resident who witnessed the smoke.

"The collision is a heavy impact, which has caused a fire," added Bradbury. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified and is expected to attend the scene for further investigation.

Given the remote location, there are minimal witnesses to the incident. Bradbury highlighted the challenges posed by the lack of information, stating: "There's not a lot of other avenues for determining what happened. At this stage, we will be processing our crime scene investigation tonight and hopefully establish over a period of time what the cause was."

The aircraft, identified as a five-seater Cirrus S-R-22, took off from Canberra Airport just after 2:30 pm. It flew south near Queanbeyan before heading north.

Approximately six minutes after takeoff, the plane made a sharp plunge near Lake George, with air traffic control unable to establish communications with the pilot.

The plane is reportedly registered to a Queensland flying club, raising questions about the cause of the crash. The incident adds to the ongoing concerns surrounding aviation safety and the need for thorough investigations to ascertain the factors contributing to such tragic events. (ILKHA)