One of the two people killed in a horror light plane crash in South Australia has been remembered as a flight instructor “admired by his peers and students”.

One of the two people killed in a horror light plane crash in South Australia dreamed of flying since he was a child, his father has revealed.

Instructor Robert “Rob” Hoyle, 29, died alongside his 24-year-old student when their Diamond DA42 rolled sharply left about 30 seconds after take‑off and plunged into a hangar at Parafield Airport on Wednesday.

His father Scott Hoyle told 7News his son had been a commercial pilot for more than a decade and was “respected and admired by his peers and students”.

He was affectionately known as “Goose” — a Top Gun reference — by those he trained.

Flying instructor Robert Hoyle, 29, has been identified as one of the two people killed in Wednesday’s plane crash in Adelaide’s north. Picture: 7News
Earlier, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau Angus Mitchell told The Advertiser while it was too early to determine what caused the crash, video footage had revealed the shocking series of events.

“We know, particularly from the video footage and some eyewitness statements from the ground, the sequence of the flight,” he said.

“We understand that very soon after take off, the aircraft came around to the left and rolled into a steep — almost nose-in attitude — before hitting the building.”

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said it was too early to make forgone conclusions about the specific events leading up to the crash. Picture: Blair Jackson / NewsWire
However, Mr Mitchell said there is more to determine, such as “altitude (and) airspeed” before any real conclusions can be made.

“At this stage it’s too early to rule in or out what exactly contributed to the accident,” he said.

“Whether it’s mechanical, whether it’s input, whether it’s the actual operation, or what it was undergoing in the training circumstances, – these are questions that we will have to start answering over the next couple of days.”

A preliminary report into the crash is expected within eight weeks.

Authorities on Thursday morning revealed scant new details of the crash as investigators arrived in Adelaide to piece together what happened.

Two men, 24 and 29, were killed after the light plane crashed into the Flight Training Adelaide hangar near Kings Rd at Parafield Airport about 2pm on Wednesday.

The light plane crashed through the hangar’s roof on landing, igniting aviation fuel and destroying the sprinkler system.

Ten people who were in or near the hangar were injured by the crash and resulting fire, which burnt thick and black as aviation fuel ignited.

The plane banked to the right before crashing. Picture: 7News
In Thursday’s update, police said a 55-year-old man from the suburb of Underdale sustained life-threatening injuries, and two other people suffered serious injuries.

The airport was closed on Thursday and will remain a “restricted” area while investigators are on site.

Police are also calling for any witnesses or people with footage to come forward.

The two people on board the DA42 four-seat twin-engine plane were killed, while others in hangar 54 suffered injuries, including burns.

Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken said one person suffered life-threatening injuries and two others were in a serious condition at Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Six people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to Lyell McEwan and Modbury Hospitals.

One person who suffered minor injuries is also at Royal Adelaide Hospital.

A fire at Parafield Airport after an aircraft crashed into a hangar. Picture: James Evans
“(This is a) tragic situation for both the pilot and the passenger, also for the local Parafield community,” Chief Inspector McCracken said.

The plane was used for student training but the inspector could not yet say if the pilot was a student.

Images from the scene show a huge plume of smoke in the area.

Joshua Swannell was driving near the airport at the time when he saw the crash.

“All I could hear was this plane kind of pitch,” Mr Swannell told ABC News.

“The pitch that it took, you could hear it struggle then straight down.

“I looked up and saw the plane up in the corner — go up, tilt, straight back down, nosedive — over the buildings.

“I just heard the crash, it just happened all so quick.”

Mr Swannell filmed the aftermath, including the black smoke.

“Within minutes it was just already so black, you couldn’t see anything — no flames, but just all black,” he said.

The crash happened about 2.10pm on Wednesday.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said on Wednesday it had begun an investigation into “the accident involving a twin-engined Diamond DA42 aircraft at Adelaide’s Parafield Airport”.

“The ATSB has deployed a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Brisbane offices, specialising in aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering, human factors and survival factors,” a statement read.

“They will arrive on site on Thursday morning, and over coming days will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components of interest for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.”

Flight Training Australia chief executive Johan Pienaar confirmed the plane was owned and operated by his company, and said they would not be operating until Monday, according to The Advertiser.

He said staff and students were being provided with welfare support while the investigation remained ongoing.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said his thoughts were with the families and loved ones of those who had died, and with everyone affected by the “devastating” crash.

“I want to sincerely thank our first responders, including South Australia Police, SA Ambulance and Metropolitan Fire Service, for their swift and courageous response under very difficult circumstances,” he said.

It is the second crash at Parafield Airport this year.

Learner pilot Youngin Kim crashed during takeoff in January, nosediving into the runway, which started a fire.