By Matt Goss
SYDNEY, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A public memorial will be built to remember the victims of a Melbourne plane crash that killed five people on Tuesday.
A local pilot and four American tourists were killed when the small charter plane they were on experienced engine failure and plunged into a Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) shopping center in Melbourne's north.
The plane had departed the nearby Essendon Airport shortly before the crash bound for King Island, a popular golf tourist destination between Victoria and Tasmania.
Angus McNaughton, managing director of DFO, said a community memorial at the center would be open to the public on Friday, offering staff and the community a chance to grieve.
"I think everybody is naturally shaken. I think with any major incident, individuals are certainly going to be shaken around it," McNaughton told reporters on Friday.
"So, obviously, the site is closed at the moment, but our team has been provided regular counselling. We are going to have a regular counsellor available on site all week next week."
"Out of respect for those who lost their lives and their families, we have made the decision not to reopen the center until Monday morning."
"This allows our community the opportunity to pay their respects."
One store was substantially damaged in the crash while 11 others remained without power.
Benjamin Morgan, executive director of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPAA), said it was likely the plane could have landed safely if the DFO building was not so close to the airport.
"It is our view that the airplane could have landed safely in the airport perimeter which really justifies our view that these kind of developments are incompatible with aviation safety," Morgan told News Limited in comments published on Friday.
"There is a serious issue of culpability for these buildings being approved in the first place."
He said that the government that approved the DFO development should be held accountable for the tragedy.
Morgan's affirmation came as the families of the American tourists, who have been identified as Texas businessman John Washburn, Glenn Garland, Russell Munsch and Greg DeHaven, departed the United States (US) bound for Melbourne.
Bruce Mills, vice president of the Texan golfing community that the four men belonged to, said the family members were heading to Melbourne to provide support.
"Can you imagine the shock of getting that news?" Mills told News Limited on Friday.
The wife of Max Quartermain, the pilot of the plane, was "really struggling," her sister posted on social media.
"Please pray for Cilla and the children that they will find some comfort and peace in this horrific situation. Cilla is really struggling," Irene Gould wrote on social media.
"Good bye Max you were a very special man and a brilliant pilot."
Darren Chester, Australia's Federal Transport Minister said that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) were continuing to collect forensic evidence on the ground and had spoken to more than 100 witnesses.
"It's quite an exhaustive task and the investigators will be on the scene for the next few days," he said.
The ATSB is expected to hand down an interim report within 28 days with the black box of the plane having been recovered and sent to Canberra for analysis.
