Thursday, August 25, 2011

Region in shock. 2 killed in ultralight plane crash. Flight training and pre-sale session in Emerald. Australia.

Warwick resident Rob Behrend was one of two men who died in a plane crash at Emerald last Wednesday.

WARWICK aviation identity Rob Behrend, 51, has been named as the second man tragically killed in an ultralight plane crash while conducting a training and pre-sale session in Emerald.

Mr Behrend, who was chief instructor and owner of Warwick Flying School, flew to Emerald last Wednesday morning and spent the day teaching local Ian Baldwin, 55, how to fly an aircraft he was planning to buy.

The men are believed to have spent the day completing training sessions before setting off for their final trip at about 3pm.

The alarm was raised when the men did not return by last light on Wednesday and police confirmed the bodies of the two men were located in a paddock 4km east of the township at 1.50pm on Thursday.

Mr Behrend, believed to have been the passenger at the time of the accident, leaves behind his wife Lynne and the couple’s three daughters.

Friend, colleague and former student Kelvin Hutchinson spoke of the “absolute shock” at Mr Behrend’s death.

“He has trained hundreds and hundreds of pilots and we’re all good, safe pilots because of him,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“That is what everybody is reeling with – there couldn’t have been a safer pilot.”

Southern Downs mayor Ron Bellingham said to hear the news one of the men involved was Mr Behrend was truly shocking.

Mr Bellingham said Mr Behrend had contributed substantially to aviation in the Warwick district.

A police investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Mr Baldwin’s funeral will be held at 11am on Friday at St Patrick’s Church in Emerald.

Mourners will then go on to the lawn cemetery.

Source:  http://www.cqnews.com.au

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