Investigation into a fatal plane crash near Sydney has revealed no mechanical faults in the aircraft involved. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Shellharbour Airport, claiming the lives of pilot Andrew Connors, his wife Julianne Connors, and their friend Colin McLaughlin. The private charter was headed to Bathurst in New South Wales during the October long weekend.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) initiated an immediate investigation, examining the wreckage and reviewing security footage. Preliminary findings were released on Friday. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that the crash was witnessed by several individuals, including members of the local Rural Fire Service who were conducting a training exercise at the airport.

"[The aircraft] only stayed airborne for a number of seconds," Mitchell said. "It only got about 50 feet (15 meters) above the ground, then it started to descend and collided with the tarmac."

According to Mitchell, flying conditions were clear, with a favorable takeoff headwind of approximately 12 knots. He noted that the takeoff speed was around 61 knots, which was expected. However, the aircraft pitched steeply, more than what is typical for a normal takeoff, and yawed to the left. "Something has gone wrong for it to pitch so steeply," he added.

The aircraft, a Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance, was a single-engine, low-wing model built in 1975 and registered in Australia in 1985. It had accumulated about 3,800 service hours by its last inspection in May. Investigators confirmed that Andrew Connors was an experienced pilot with over 1,000 flying hours, including approximately 27 hours in the aircraft that crashed.

Mitchell stated, "We've been able to ascertain from the wreckage that the [pilot's] seat was in the correct position. Sometimes people will point to human or pilot error, but that's not necessarily the case. Sometimes actions are taken based on the situation at the time, so we need to understand exactly what happened inside the cockpit."

The aircraft was reportedly well-maintained, with no apparent mechanical issues during takeoff. "We know that there was power being delivered to the propeller at the time," Mitchell said. "The flaps were in the correct setting. We know the stabilizer trim was set slightly to nose-up and the rugger trim was normal. So there are no indications we wouldn't expect to see."

Mitchell emphasized that further analysis of recorded data, aircraft documentation, recovered components, and pilot medical records is necessary to determine the cause of the crash. He noted that no investigative avenues have been dismissed, but the steep pitch of the aircraft will be a primary focus.

The investigation could take between six months to a year, depending on the complexity of the evidence gathered. "It really depends on where that evidence takes us and how potentially complex that is," he said.