A TREE stump that was left exposed on a runway is what caused a plane to crash near Geraldton, killing the pilot in an intense inferno, a preliminary investigation has found.
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The male pilot was killed after the Cessna A188B/A1 Agtruck aircraft smashed into scrubland and was engulfed in flames at a Chapman Valley airstrip, 25 kilometres east of Geraldton, on September 14.
He was on the 11th of 12 scheduled flights for the day, and the plane was laden with 600 litres of chemicals and water.
The airstrip was the base for aerial spraying operations in the area.
Preliminary results from an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found the plane hit a tree stump which was in the overshoot area of the 700-metre gravel runway.
It then collided with trees and scrub about 100 metres further on, before an "intense" fire broke out, seriously damaging the plane, the investigation found.
An examination of the plane's engine, propeller, navigation equipment and other parts is continuing. The aircraft's maintenance records and pilot's training records will also be reviewed.
