Detectives and aviation safety investigators will probe the cause of a light plane crash near Ballarat that killed a 19-year-old university student who was on a solo training flight.
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Moorabool police and two investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau returned to the crash site at Millbrook, in north-west Victoria, on Wednesday morning
ATSB officers are expected to remain at the site for two days as they examine the wreckage and review aircraft documentation and maintenance records, as is standard practice.
The single-engine Cessna 172 plunged from the sky and crashed into a paddock about 3.20pm on Tuesday, killing a 19-year-old female student pilot from RMIT's aviation school in Point Cook.
RMIT vice-chancellor Marton Bean said the university community was devastated by the tragic news.
"On behalf of the university, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the student's family, loved ones and friends," he said.
"As a father, I can only begin to imagine the pain they are feeling at this time."
UPDATE: A person has died in a fatal plane crash in Millbrook. #9News pic.twitter.com/hWDchLGgWf— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb)
September 8, 2015
Mr Bean said he had personally visited RMIT's aviation training facility, at the Point Cook RAAF base, to be with students and staff on Tuesday night.
He said operations at RMIT Point Cook were suspended until further notice and the university was offering counselling services.
Mr Bean said RMIT was assisting the Air Transport Safety Bureau, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and emergency services.
Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said on Wednesday morning the "thoughts and prayers" of the state government were with the women's family.
He said he has asked the Department of Education and Training to work with RMIT to make sure students and staff at Point Cook were "looked after".
"It is tragic to lose anyone but it is all the more heartbreaking when someone is taken so young and under such tragic circumstances," Mr Herbert said.
"I ask that the media respect the privacy of RMIT staff and students and the family of the young student at this difficult time."
Ballarat Aero Club's Tim Gilfillan said weather conditions at the time of the crash were "perfectly okay" for flying.
"We've been flying this afternoon so the weather was fine, the visibility would have been at 20 kilometres, the cloud base would have been at 1500 feet," Mr Gilfillan said.
Fatal crash of light plane into the side of a hill at Millbrook @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/cNISlcadjh— Phil Loschiavo (@LoschiavoPhil7) September 8, 2015