Respected' 76yo pilot killed in plane crash built replica Spitfire himself

A fatal crash in Western Australia has prompted an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into the death of a 76-year-old pilot who built his own aircraft. Malcolm Vivian died on Wednesday morning after his amateur-built replica Spitfire crashed into terrain in the rural locality of Malabaine, east of Northam and about 90 kilometres north-east of Perth. Police said emergency services found him dead at the scene. A friend, Kim Lawrence, described Vivian as a well-liked pilot and respected aircraft builder, saying the “brand new” replica was his second aircraft and had been “running beautiful” during recent landings and touch-and-go practice. The ATSB is expected to arrive in Perth to examine the site, interview witnesses, and review any available flight tracking data, maintenance records, and weather information, with a preliminary report due in about eight weeks.