Probe continues into Vic plane crash

Probe continues into Vic plane crash

2 August 2007

published by news.brisbanetimes.com.au

Australia: —  AMelbourne pilot killed in a crash along with her boss dreamed of one day flyingfor Qantas.

Janelle Johnston, from Balwyn North, died along with millionaire businessmanSteve Nott, 50, when their twin-engined Aero Commander 500 slammed into theground near Clonbinane, 70km north of Melbourne, on Tuesday evening.

Colleagues described Ms Johnston as confident and community-minded and shehad flown on dangerous missions to fight Victorian bushfires last summer.

“Brilliant and lively and passionate about what she was doing,”friend Jenny Houghton told the Ten Network.

“She won a scholarship … for her instructor rating and she justdecided she was in the process of taking that step with applications to airlines.”

Ms Johnston had been a commercial pilot for 14 years and was a member of theAir Force Cadets and Australian Women’s Pilots Association, the network said.

Investigators believe the wings and tail of the Aero Commander broke offbefore the aircraft hit the ground but have yet to say what caused the in-flightbreak-up.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau officials are expected to reveal furtherdetails at a media conference on Friday.

The victims have yet to be formally identified.