Maitland Pilot Critically Injured in Avalon Airshow Crash

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The aviation community in Maitland is reeling after local pilot Glenn Collins was critically injured in a crash during an aerobatic performance at the Avalon International Airshow on Friday, 28 March.

Collins, a veteran flyer with more than 2,700 hours of experience and a long-time member of the Maitland-based Paul Bennet Airshows team, was taking part in a four-plane aerobatic display with the SkyAces when his aircraft lost control during a solo manoeuvre around 5:15pm. Witnesses reported that he was attempting a loop when the plane failed to pull up in time and struck the tarmac, skidding to a halt and sparking a small grass fire.

Emergency crews, including pyrotechnicians and airport fire services, were the first to respond before paramedics arrived. Collins, aged in his 50s, was airlifted to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne with serious upper and lower body injuries. He remained in a critical but stable condition as of Saturday morning.

Collins is widely respected in the aerobatic community. He won the New South Wales and Australian Sportsman Championship in 1997, the Australian Intermediate Championship in 1998, and the Victorian Advanced title in 1999. He is also a licensed skydiver with over 80 jumps to his name.

The crash occurred in front of tens of thousands of spectators but, fortunately, well away from the crowd. No one else was injured. Gasps were heard across the airfield as the orange Wolf Pitts Pro aircraft impacted the ground. One spectator, Jess Wright, told Weekend Today, “We all just stood up, and it was just silent… there was a little bit of a gasp, then silence.”

Several witnesses described the harrowing moment. Andrew Pearce said the aircraft appeared to hit its belly rather than nosediving, which may have saved Collins’ life. Geoff Crane, who travelled from Canberra, described seeing the plane “tumbling along the ground… dirt was being thrown up and it stopped very, very suddenly.” He said the mood was sombre as crowds left the airfield.

Paul Bennet Airshows, which has strong ties to the Maitland community, confirmed that Collins was the pilot involved. In a statement, they said, “The Bennet family and the Paul Bennet Airshows team are thinking of Glenn Collins – who remains in hospital – and his family at this time.” The team has since withdrawn from the remainder of the Avalon Airshow out of respect and concern for their colleague.

Messages of support for Collins and the team have poured in from across Australia and around the world. The Royal Newcastle Aero Club expressed its sympathies, with club president Trevor Wimmer stating, “We are keeping our fingers crossed for a speedy recovery with the best possible outcome.”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) launched an investigation immediately after the crash. A team of investigators from Canberra specialising in aircraft operations and maintenance arrived at the scene to examine wreckage, review flight and maintenance records, and gather weather data and flight tracking information. The ATSB has appealed to the public for any video footage of the incident to assist with their inquiry.

Avalon Airshow organisers, the AMDA Foundation, suspended the remainder of Friday’s program to allow the ATSB full access to the crash site. The airshow resumed on Saturday with a delayed start to the flying display. Organisers offered free Sunday tickets to Friday ticketholders in acknowledgement of the interrupted program.

CEO of the AMDA Foundation, Justin Giddings, thanked first responders and emergency teams for their swift action and professionalism. He noted that while the incident was serious, it was a relief that there were no further injuries or fatalities.

Glenn Collins’ family and team remain by his side in Melbourne, as the Maitland community and broader aviation world await updates on his recovery. Many in the region have followed his career over the years and are hoping for good news in the days to come.