A Port Lincoln pilot killed in a tragic plane crash on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula has been remembered as a loving father and husband, and an adored member of his community.

Jarred Wait, 36, died yesterday afternoon when his crop-dusting plane crashed in Yeelanna, north of Cummins. 

“An incident like this will have ramifications not just locally but broadly throughout the industry,” Angus Mitchell from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said.

“Rural communities like this, any type of fatality has a very lasting and hard hitting impact on the community.”

Wait’s single-occupant aircraft hit a paddock approximately 15 kilometres north of the aerodrome in Yeelanna during agricultural spraying operations.

The aircraft, operated by Aerotech, crashed into a crop, flipping upside down metres from a power pole. 

“Aerotech expresses its profound sympathies to the family and friends of our colleague,” the company said in a statement.

“We are supporting the wellbeing of those immediately impacted by this incident, including our staff.”

In addition to assisting SA Police and the ATSB, Aerotech is conducting its own investigation into the fatal crash.

The ATSB has launched an investigation into the crash, focusing on determining the sequence of events leading to the crash and whether the aircraft struck any obstacles, including power lines. 

“Our job is to determine what occurred, why it occurred and then do what we can to make sure that we lessen the likelihood other families and colleagues have to go through this in the future,” Mitchell said. 

“We’ll aim to put out a preliminary report in about two months’ time and hopefully that’ll have the sequence of events,” he added.