Pilot killed in Adelaide hangar crash was 'admired by his peers and students'

The devastated family of a pilot who lost his life in a plane crash in Adelaide have paid a heartfelt tribute to their “admired” son.

Robert Hoyle was one of two people who died in the incident at Parafield Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Robert was the flight instructor killed alongside a 24-year-old student pilot after the Diamond DA42 light aircraft they were aboard crashed into the airport’s hangar just before 2:11pm.

His parents revealed that the 29-year-old had harboured dreams of becoming a pilot since the age of eight and had been affectionately nicknamed ‘Goose’ by his students, after the fictional aviator in Top Gun.

Robert’s parents told 7News: “Robert was a commercial pilot for more than a decade.”

“He was respected and admired by his peers and students.”

They paid tribute to their son adding that he had recently found the love of his life.

It is understood that Hoyle was employed by Flight Training Adelaide.

In addition to the two fatalities, a further 10 people sustained injuries in the incident.

Two individuals were left in a serious condition, with a 55-year-old man suffering life-threatening injuries, including burns to 80 per cent of his body.

When the aircraft struck the hangar, a fierce blaze erupted, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Some 50 firefighters raced to the scene, while more than 100 students and staff were evacuated from the airport.

Angus Mitchell, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), stated that he understood the flight lasted fewer than 30 seconds before the aircraft nose-dived into the hangar.

He described the scene as “horrific” as crews began sifting through the wreckage.

“Very soon after take-off, it has pulled very sharply to the left, and it’s continued all the way around about 180 degrees, not very high off the ground, not in the air for very long, and it’s impacted the building.

“It will be quite a job for us today as we start to pick through that scene to really understand what’s gone wrong so early in what we know is a training flight.

“The extent of damage was very extensive. And that post-impact fire will have done a lot of damage to the aircraft itself as well and to anything that’s on board.”