A 19-year-old RMIT student died when her aircraft, a Cessna 172, crashed into a paddock on a privately-owned property at Black Hill, an old volcanic crater off Old Melbourne Rd.

The woman, who was the only person in the plane, died at the scene.

The pilot had left Point Cook Airport, where she was studying an Associate Degree in Aviation (Professional Pilots) with RMIT, about 2.10pm on a return solo navigational training flight via Ballarat.

Witnesses said about 3.40pm they saw the aircraft flying low and heard an increase in engine power before it crested the hill. More power changes were heard before the aircraft disappeared, but no one saw the crash.

The final report in to the crash from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been has been delayed at least four times because of “competing work priorities of the investigation team”.

In addition to inspection of the wreckage and aircraft structure, the investigation included examination of data from the Cessna’s GPS equipment, aircraft maintenance documents, flying and training records of the flight, weather information, and relevant organisational information.

A draft report is expected to be released to the directly involved parties for comment next month, who will then have 28 days to provide feedback to the ATSB on the factual accuracy of the draft report. The final report is not expected until December.