Plane crash at Essendon DFO. Picture: 7 News

That’s according to a recent update from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau who said an investigation into a previous “near collision” in 2015 would be completed by May.

Meanwhile, the ATSB has also deployed a team of four investigators to the Melbourne site to examine the wreckage, interview witnesses and gather audio and radar data from Tuesday’s crash which marks the worst aviation accident Australia has seen in 30 years.

It comes as shocking dashcam footage showed the moment the Beechcraft plane went down over a busy highway killing the pilot and four American tourists on board.

MORE: Tributes flow to passengers and pilots killed in disaster.

Video shows the plane flying low over the Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) building adjacent to Victoria’s Essendon Airport before disappearing out of sight just before 9am. The plane dipped dramatically and cartwheeled into DFO.

Pilot Max Quartermain was flying a group of American golfers who were on the trip of a lifetime of Australia and New Zealand when they were killed in the fiery crash that made global headlines.

Mr Quartermain reported “catastrophic engine failure” before the crash in two mayday calls.

The pilot was the owner of Essendon-based Corporate and Leisure Aviation and had more than 38 years of flying experience. He was praised by colleagues as experienced, caring and competent

However he had also been involved in a previous incident in 2015 where his plane came within one nautical mile horizontally and 90 metres vertically of another plane in bad weather conditions.

During that incident, the pilot of the other plane described Mr Quartermain’s actions as “unsafe” in an incident report.

“If this event did result in a midair collision, two aircraft would have been destroyed and 18 people would have been killed,” he said.

HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME

Mr Quartermain was chartering the four guests on his twin-engined plane to a luxury golfing trip on one of King Island’s three golf courses when tragedy struck.

The four passengers were a group of American golfers playing their way around the world on the trip of a lifetime. Two of those killed have been named by family as Greg De Haven and Russell Munsch. Both are from Texas in the United States.

The third man is understood to be another US tourist Glenn Garland. The fourth man has not been named.

Mr De Haven, 70, was a retired FBI agent, and Mr Munsch was a founding partner of Munsch Hardt law firm.

Mr De Haven’s sister Denelle Wicht broke the news in a Facebook post: “Dear friends and family, my handsome athletic big brother was killed today in a plane accident while on his ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to Australia.”

“It was a charter flight with 2 of his friends flying to another island to play golf.”

Carol Holst, a cousin of Mr Munsch, posted a picture of him, saying: “Russ was killed in a plane crash in Australia today. Hug your loved ones. You never know.”

Pictures posted on Facebook of the group show them having a great time at wineries and golf courses throughout New Zealand and Australia. It’s believed their wives were travelling with them and it’s thought they planned a trip to the Great Ocean Road while their husbands played golf.

A veteran pilot, Mr Quartermain was no stranger to flights to remote King Island, which lies in the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania.

Greg De Haven. Picture: FacebookSource:Supplied

Russell Munsch. Picture: FacebookSource:Supplied

In the past year two new golf courses have opened on the island, and it was a must-play for the American group, who had already played Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne.

Before the Australian leg of their tour they had been to New Zealand, and played the country’s most expensive and premier golf course, Tara Iti.

Mr Quartermain, aged in his 60s, was described as a “good bloke” with “an impeccable safety record”, who had held his Air Operations Certificate for more than 38 years, according to the company website. He owned Corporate and Leisure Aviation Company with his wife, Cilla.

He was described as a “true gentleman” by those who knew him and flew with him, and hailed as a “champion bloke” and a “fine pilot” by friends and colleagues.

“We feel the loss of part of the family very deeply. Max was one of the Essendon family, and we’re sad and we miss him,” said Mike Falls, senior managing director and chief pilot at Shortstop Jet Charter.

The Herald Sun also cited aviation sources paying tribute to Mr Quartermain.

Pilot Max Quartermain is believed to have been flying the five-seater when it went down.Source:Supplied

DISTRESS CALLS

Investigators will examine closely the site and wreckage, gathering recorded data including radio and radar, and interviewing witnesses. The pilot’s distress call is expected to form a significant part of the investigation, police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane said.

The Beechcraft Super King aircraft was just seconds into its flight when it came in low and fast and hit the complex’s homemaker centre at the rear of the shopping centre.

It is understood one of the plane’s twin engines failed after take-off with, police saying the cause of the crash was likely “catastrophic engine failure”.

Confirming multiple deaths, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the crash was “the worst civil aviation incident in the state in 30 years”.

“Today is a desperately sad day,” he said.

Police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane confirmed only those who were on the flight — four passengers and the pilot — were harmed.

“There were five people on the aeroplane. It looks like nobody survived the crash,” he said.

A spokesman for the US embassy confirmed four US citizens were on board the fatal flight.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died in today’s tragic crash,” the spokesman said.

“The US embassy in Melbourne and Canberra is working closely with local authorities to assist in any way possible. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the families of the victims.

“Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have no further comment..”

Mr Leane said authorities were in the process of contacting families of the victims, and would release further details about those on the plane “as soon as we can”.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville described the crash as a “very tragic accident” and assured a full suite of emergency services were in force after the incident.

The plane moments before it nosedived into the shopping complex in Essendon. Picture: Channel 10Source:Channel 10

During his press conference, the Premier singled out Ambulance Victoria paramedics who responded to the crash.

“Ambulance Victoria always serve us well but this has special resonance because, for a period of time, there were reports that the plane was an Ambulance Victoria plane. Of course, that is not the case. This was a private charter. Nothing to do with the Victorian government or Ambulance Victoria,” he said.

Ambulance Victoria paramedics assessed 13 bystanders, but none required transport to hospital.

The Premier also thanked police and 90 firefighters who had done and “equally outstanding job” in what was “a very intense, nasty fire”.

Essendon plane crashes into DFO. Picture: Jordan Fouracre/FacebookSource:Facebook

Essendon plane crashes into DFO. Picture: Jordan Fouracre/FacebookSource:Facebook

‘I SAW THIS HUGE EXPLOSION’

Witnesses reported a loud and fiery explosion as the aircraft crashed into the shopping centre, and plumes of thick smoke could still be seen coming from the scene.

One cafe operator who was inside the DFO complex told news.com.au the crash occurred at the rear of the complex’s Spotlight store.

A second business owner said she saw the crash from the freeway on her way to work.

“I actually saw the explosion. I was coming off the freeway and I saw this huge explosion,” she said.

“There were flames coming out of the roof and all this black smoke.”

The business owner said the aircraft did not make it far.

She said the crash occurred right near the neighbouring Essendon Airport runway.

Only skeleton staff were present at the time of the crash as stores were not due to open until 10am.

Witnesses described the horrific scene from the freeway and surrounding roads.

“There is constant explosions going off, there is black smoke billowing into the sky,” one caller told 3AW on Tuesday.

Another witness, Paul, said the scene was “like the vision you see of an atomic bomb”.

“Just a ball of flame going up in the air,” he said. “It was just surreal to see it happening right next to you.”

All Spotlight staff have been accounted for.Source:News Corp Australia

ABC radio caller Jason was in a taxi when he looked out the window and saw what he thought was a twin-propeller plane, AAP reports.

“I saw this plane coming in really low and fast. It went just behind the barriers so I couldn’t see the impact but when it hit the building there was a massive fireball,” he told ABC 774.

“I could feel the heat through the window of the taxi, and then a wheel — it looked like a plane wheel — bounced on the road and hit the front of the taxi as we were driving along.

“We kept driving and there was big fireball behind us.”

Dozens of emergency officers are at the scene. Picture: Ian CurrieSource:News Corp Australia

A light aircraft has crashed into DFO in Essendon. Fire Crews douse what looks like the fuselage. Picture: Jason EdwardsSource:News Corp Australia

Victoria’s emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley described the incident as a “catastrophic event”.

While no other people aside from those killed on the plane were killed or injured, Mr Lapsley said Ambulance Victoria dealt with a number of people with concerns about shock and trauma.

INVESTIGATION

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the collision, deploying a team of four investigators.

The ATSB has asked witnesses to contact the bureau on 1800 020 616.

The aircraft crash has caused significant damage to the building.

The crash left a blackened hole in the DFO building where the roof had caved in, in addition to other damage.

Fire inside the complex obstructed emergency crews’ access to some parts of the shopping centre earlier today.

The crash threw Melbourne traffic into chaos with part of the Tullamarine Freeway closed and debris scattered along nearby roads.

A wheel from the plane left on the freeway is believed to have delayed emergency services from reaching the scene.

Light plane crash into DFO at Essendon Airport. Picture: Ian CurrieSource:News Corp Australia

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