Final moments before a light plane crashes into Essendon's DFO killing all on board. Courtesy: Ten Eyewitness News

Final moments before a light plane crashes into Essendon's DFO killing all on board. Courtesy: Ten Eyewitness News

THE pilot in yesterday’s tragic plane crash, who’s been hailed as a “champion bloke”, was under investigation over a midair “near collision” in 2015.

Max Quartermain, 63, who had more than 38 years’ flying experience, died along with four US golfing tourists yesterday when the plane he was piloting exploded in a fireball after crashing into the Essendon Direct Factory Outlet in Melbourne’s north.

Mr Quartermain has been remembered as a “fine pilot”, but he was involved in a “close shave” less than two years ago.

After the near-miss Mr Quartermain passed safety checks required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

On September 3, 2015, Mr Quartermain was the pilot of one of two charter planes carrying a total of 18 people that flew frightening close to each other in bad weather at Mt Hotham.

The two Beechcraft B200 King Airs from separate firms were ferrying Audi customers to an exclusive snow-driving event, from Essendon Airport and from Bankstown Airport in western Sydney, the Herald Sun reported at the time.

Near the destination, Mr Quartermain’s plane from Essendon came as close as 90m vertically and 1.8km horizontally to the Sydney plane. It landed on the runway in the wrong direction, in heavy cloud and poor conditions.

The Sydney pilot said in his report: “If this event did result in a midair collision, two aircraft would have been destroyed and 18 people would have been killed.”

CASA required Mr Quartermain to undergo testing following the incident, and cleared the pilot when he passed.

“We did require him to undertake additional proficiency checks after that incident, and he obviously passed those checks,” CASA spokesman Peter Gibson told news.com.au.

The Australian reported Mr Quartermain failed an initial proficiency test issued by CASA last year, but passed on the second attempt. Mr Gibson said he was unable to confirm this report.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau reported recently that the investigation of the incident had been deferred three times due to “workload” and would be completed by May.

News.com.au has contacted Mr Quartermain’s private charter company Corporate and Leisure Aviation for comment.

Mr Quartermain has been praised by colleagues as experienced, caring and competent.

Shortstop Jet Charter senior managing director and chief pilot Mike Falls was one of many to pay tribute to his colleague.

“We feel the loss of part of the family very deeply. Max was one of the Essendon family, and we’re sad and we miss him,” Mr Falls said yesterday.

Workers at Essendon Airport businesses and several aviation sources described Mr Quartermain as “a great guy … champion bloke” and an experienced pilot.

The company’s website says that Mr Quartermain had an “impeccable safety record”.

‘CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE’

While the cause of yesterday’s crash is yet to be confirmed, the pilot reported a “catastrophic engine failure” moments before the plane crashed into a storage area at the rear of the mall, police said.

The ATSB has also deployed a team of four investigators to the Melbourne site to examine the wreckage, interview witnesses and gather audio and radar data from yesterday’s crash, which Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the state’s worst aviation disaster in 30 years.

It comes as shocking dashcam footage showed the moment the Beechcraft plane went down over a busy highway killing the pilot and four American tourists on board.

Dashcam footage of Essendon DFO plane crash Dashcam footage of Essendon DFO plane crash

Video shows the plane flying low over the DFO building adjacent to Victoria’s Essendon Airport before disappearing out of sight just before 9am. The plane dipped dramatically and cartwheeled into the roof.

Mr Quartermain was flying a group of American golfers who were on the trip of a lifetime of Australia and New Zealand when they were killed in the fiery crash that made global headlines.

Mr Quartermain made two mayday calls before the crash.

HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME

Mr Quartermain was chartering the four guests on his twin-engined plane to a luxury golfing trip on one of King Island’s three golf courses when tragedy struck.

The four passengers were a group of American golfers playing their way around the world on the trip of a lifetime.

The four men were:

● Greg De Haven, 70: A retired FBI agent, of Spicewood, Texas

● Russell Munsch: A law firm partner, of Austin, Texas

● Glenn Garland: an entrepreneur, of Austin, Texas

● John Washburn 67: a retiree, of Spicewood, Texas

Mr De Haven’s sister Denelle Wicht broke the news in a Facebook post.

“Dear friends and family, my handsome, athletic big brother was killed today in a plane accident while on his ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to Australia,” she wrote.

“It was a charter flight with 2 of his friends flying to another island to play golf.”

Mr Garland’s colleague at energy company CLEAResult said “we have lost an incredible man”.

“Glenn Garland was more than a colleague to me, he was a visionary and a close friend,” CLEAResult co-founder Jim Stimmel said.

“I am devastated to hear of his passing and my heart and thoughts are with his family. I am blessed to have known and worked closely with Glenn for many years.”

Pictures posted on Facebook of the group show them having a great time at wineries and golf courses throughout New Zealand and Australia. It’s believed their wives were travelling with them and it’s thought they planned a trip to the Great Ocean Rd while their husbands played golf.

A veteran pilot, Mr Quartermain was no stranger to flights to remote King Island, which lies in the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania.

In the past year, two new golf courses have opened on the island, and it was a must-play for the American group, who had already played Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne.

Before the Australian leg of their tour they had been to New Zealand, and played the country’s most expensive and premier golf course, Tara Iti.

DISTRESS CALLS

Investigators will examine closely the site and wreckage, gathering recorded data including radio and radar, and interviewing witnesses. The pilot’s distress call is expected to form a significant part of the investigation, police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane said.

The Beechcraft Super King aircraft was just seconds into its flight when it came in low and fast and hit the complex’s homemaker centre at the rear of the shopping centre.

It is understood one of the plane’s twin engines failed after takeoff with, police saying the cause of the crash was likely “catastrophic engine failure”.

Confirming multiple deaths, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the crash was “the worst civil aviation incident in the state in 30 years”.

“Today is a desperately sad day,” he said.

Police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane confirmed only those who were on the flight — four passengers and the pilot — were harmed.

“There were five people on the aeroplane. It looks like nobody survived the crash,” he said.

A spokesman for the US embassy confirmed four US citizens were on board the fatal flight.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died in today’s tragic crash,” the spokesman said.

“The US embassy in Melbourne and Canberra is working closely with local authorities to assist in any way possible. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the families of the victims.

“Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have no further comment.”

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville described the crash as a “very tragic accident” and assured a full suite of emergency services were in force after the incident.

During his press conference, the Premier singled out Ambulance Victoria paramedics who responded to the crash.

“Ambulance Victoria always serve us well but this has special resonance because, for a period of time, there were reports that the plane was an Ambulance Victoria plane. Of course, that is not the case. This was a private charter. Nothing to do with the Victorian government or Ambulance Victoria,” he said.

Ambulance Victoria paramedics assessed 13 bystanders, but none required transport to hospital.

The Premier also thanked police and 90 firefighters who had done and “equally outstanding job” in what was “a very intense, nasty fire”.

‘I SAW THIS HUGE EXPLOSION’

Witnesses reported a loud and fiery explosion as the aircraft crashed into the shopping centre, and plumes of thick smoke could still be seen coming from the scene.

One cafe operator who was inside the DFO complex told news.com.au the crash occurred at the rear of the complex’s Spotlight store.

A second business owner said she saw the crash from the freeway on her way to work.

“I actually saw the explosion. I was coming off the freeway and I saw this huge explosion,” she said.

“There were flames coming out of the roof and all this black smoke.”

The business owner said the aircraft did not make it far.

She said the crash occurred right near the neighbouring Essendon Airport runway.

Flight path of the aircraft. Possibly catastrophic engine failure.



Whatever happened, it happened very quickly. #Essendon pic.twitter.com/gJE2TIPLvc — Matt Di Toro (@matt_ditoro) February 20, 2017

Witnesses described the horrific scene from the freeway and surrounding roads.

“There is constant explosions going off, there is black smoke billowing into the sky,” one caller told 3AW on Tuesday.

Another witness, Paul, said the scene was “like the vision you see of an atomic bomb”.

“Just a ball of flame going up in the air,” he said. “It was just surreal to see it happening right next to you.”

Eyewitness videos show impact of Melbourne plane crash Eyewitness videos show impact of Melbourne plane crash

ABC radio caller Jason was in a taxi when he looked out the window and saw what he thought was a twin-propeller plane, AAP reports.

“I saw this plane coming in really low and fast. It went just behind the barriers so I couldn’t see the impact but when it hit the building there was a massive fireball,” he told ABC 774.

“I could feel the heat through the window of the taxi, and then a wheel — it looked like a plane wheel — bounced on the road and hit the front of the taxi as we were driving along.

“We kept driving and there was big fireball behind us.”

Victoria’s emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley described the incident as a “catastrophic event”.

While no other people aside from those killed on the plane were killed or injured, Mr Lapsley said Ambulance Victoria dealt with a number of people with concerns about shock and trauma.

INVESTIGATION

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the collision, deploying a team of four investigators.

The ATSB has asked witnesses to contact the bureau on 1800 020 616.

The aircraft crash has caused significant damage to the building.

The crash left a blackened hole in the DFO building where the roof had caved in, in addition to other damage.

Fire inside the complex obstructed emergency crews’ access to some parts of the shopping centre earlier today.

The crash threw Melbourne traffic into chaos with part of the Tullamarine Freeway closed and debris scattered along nearby roads.

A wheel from the plane left on the freeway is believed to have delayed emergency services from reaching the scene.

Do you know more? Send your pics and videos to elizabeth.burke@news.com.au