Police investigate the scene of a fiery plane crash just outside Cootamundra which claimed the lives of two pilots on Saturday night.
Picture: Addison Hamilton
Police examine the site and wreckage of a light plane crash near Cootamundra.
Picture: Addison Hamilton
THE aviation community is mourning the loss of two pilots who were
killed on Saturday night when their microlight trike crash-landed on a
property near Cootamundra and burst into flames.
The
50-year-old man and 53-year-old woman, who have yet to be identified,
are believed to have been returning home from the 2012 Natfly in Temora
about 6.30pm when their aircraft reportedly came into contact with a
windmill on a property on Stockinbingal Road, about five kilometres from
Cootamundra.
Paul Ballard, who was working in the shed of
his West Kinlock property when the aircraft crash-landed a few hundred
metres away, said he heard a loud bang.
By the time he made
it outside, the towering flames which had engulfed the shell of the
plane were visible above the line of trees that bordered the paddock.
“At that point I had my mobile phone in one hand and running shoes in the other,” he said.
“But there was not much I could do.”
Cootamundra
Local Area Command duty officer Inspector Matthew Tishler said by the
time emergency service crews arrived at the scene the plane was well
alight.
“It was extinguished by the fire brigade, that’s when we discovered the two deceased,” he said.
The two bodies were removed on Saturday night before police postponed the investigations until yesterday.
Yesterday,
detectives from the NSW police aviation support branch and personnel
from Recreational Aviation Australia did a series of fly-overs,
assessing the Cootamundra property and mapping out the possible
scenarios which may have brought the plane ride into jeopardy.
Inspector
Tishler said while it had been confirmed the pair had taken off from
Temora Airport about 6pm, there was little information as to how the
flight unfolded.
“It will probably be some time before a
determination can be made as to what has bought about the aircraft
failure or the accident,” Inspector Tishler said.
“Then it will be a matter for the coroner.
“Without
going into the specifics of the legislation I understand there is some
requirement they are on the ground before daylight ceases so that is
something that has to be examined as well.”
Recreational Aviation Australia will be continuing the investigations.
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