Pilot killed in Adelaide Parafield Airport crash as family pay heartbreaking tribute

Robert Hoyle, 29, was a flight instructor described as “respected and admired” by his peers and students, and was killed alongside a 24-year-old student pilot when their plane crashed into a hangar at Parafield Airport in Adelaide

The devastated family of a pilot who tragically died in an Adelaide plane crash have paid tribute to their “admired” son.

Robert Hoyle was one of two individuals who lost their lives in the incident at Parafield Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

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

His parents revealed that the 29-year-old had aspired to be a pilot since he was eight-years-old and was affectionately known as ‘Goose’ by his students, a nod to the fictional aviator in Top Gun.

Speaking to 7News, Robert’s parents said: “Robert was a commercial pilot for more than a decade.”

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

They honoured their son, adding that he had recently found the love of his life.

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

In addition to the two fatalities, 10 others were injured 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 plane collided with the hangar, it sparked a massive fire, with black smoke billowing into the sky.

50 firefighters raced to the scene of the inferno and over 100 students and staff were evacuated from the airport.

Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Angus Mitchell, revealed that the flight lasted less than 30 seconds before it plunged nose-first into the hangar.

He described the scene as “horrific” as crews begin 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.”