A pilot began an aerobatic trick lower than he had during practice before a horror plane crash at the Avalon International Airshow near Geelong last year, investigators have revealed.

Veteran pilot Glenn Collins survived the crash but suffered lifelong injuries when he crashed during a triple avalanche manoeuvre in March last year.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: ATSB releases Avalon Airshow crash investigation findings.

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An Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation into the crash has found Collins began the manoeuvre — which involved “a loop with three snap rolls at the top” — at an altitude 100ft lower than the 200ft height used during previous flights.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell on Wednesday said the investigation found multiple factors contributed to the crash.

During the snap rolls at the top of the loop, the nose of the aircraft was pointing towards the ground more than normal.

“It wasn’t climbing during that manoeuvre, which really just meant it ran out of air,” Mitchell said.

“There just wasn’t enough altitude to complete that manoeuvre.”

Collins was flying at 300km/h when he crashed. He suffered a spinal injury and his legs were crushed, and he has faced a long road to recovery including learning to walk again.

The plane crashed in the middle of a live pyrotechnic set-up designed to create a wall of fire during displays.

This complicated the emergency response and “the ambulance service also required escorts to ensure safe access to the accident site,” Mitchell said.

Glenn Collins was flying at 300km/h when he crashed from a height of 100ft. Credit: Spotlight

The plane crashed in a live pyrotechnic set-up, complicating the emergency response. Credit: AAP

Mitchell has since attended a one-day workshop with airshow organisers and participants to discuss the ATSB findings.

He said many safety measures were already being implemented ahead of upcoming events including the Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast.

Organisers have now accepted recommendations and will implement new safety measures including setting a hard deck minimum altitude for aerobatic manoeuvres.

“Having checks and balances during the manoeuvre itself, going through gates at certain altitudes and confirming you are at the right altitude before you get to that point of no return,” Mitchell said.

Collins began his life-changing stunt 100ft too low, the ATSB found. Credit: 7NEWS

The veteran stunt pilot is now on a challenging rehabilitation journey, and hopes to one day return to the cockpit. Credit: PBA

The ATSB is also recommending improved emergency response protocols, including clear laneways for emergency services to access crash sites quickly.

While the ATSB found it was unlikely the response time impacted Collins’ injuries, it could “affect survivability in a similar circumstance”.

Collins acknowledged last year how much worse his injuries could have been.

“I’m one of the very, very lucky ones where my spinal injury is low, so I will hopefully be able to walk again,” he said.

“Many people don’t.”

Collins hopes to get back in the cockpit again one day, as ATSB moves to make the skies safer for the nation’s ambitious pilots.

Mitchell said the many airshows in Australia are “a very important part of our aviation offering, but we want them as safe as possible”.