Finding into death of Daniel Flinn

55y · Male·Multiple injuries sustained in a light plane incident

On 29 January 2016, four occupants of a Piper PA-28 aircraft (VH-PXD) departed Moorabbin Airport in Victoria for King Island in poor weather conditions. All three licensed pilots knew conditions were unsuitable for VFR flight but departed collectively. At approximately 12:27 PM, the aircraft entered a rapid descent and impacted water 6.6 km southwest of Point Lonsdale, killing all four occupants. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation determined the pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation after entering low cloud and reduced visibility, with loss of control resulting. The coroner found the three pilots were aware weather breached minimum VFR requirements but continued flying. Key systemic concerns included: pilots holding VFR licenses have insufficient IFR training to manage inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions; the Pilot-in-Command could not be identified; and VFR flight decision-making under pressure to proceed to social events contributed to the accident.