Originally Posted by
LostOnHoth
I haven’t heard the ATC recordings so don’t know whether this radio call was a regular downwind call or an intended emergency call without the maydays or pan pans
It was a completely normal "downwind fullstop" call, and according to the available ADS-B data, it appears the pilot initiated the turn on to base at the expected point. In fact, I flew directly over the wreckage yesterday as I was in the circuit to land on 06. I would surmise that only a loss of control resulting in a spin could have eaten up so much height so quickly. I fear it will be some time before the ATSB can tell us what really happened, and why.