The shock death of Newborough couple Terry and Bev Fisher, pictured here at an aviation awards dinner in 2011, has rocked the Latrobe Valley Aero Club.
Terry Fisher, in a photo posted on Facebook in January.
Pakenham couple Bev and Terry Fisher in a photo posted by their daughter-in-law on Facebook.
The Latrobe Valley aviation community is in a state of shock after the death of two of its long standing members in a light-plane crash in New South Wales yesterday.
Newborough couple Terry and Bev Fisher, both in their sixties, died yesterday when their aircraft reportedly crashed near an airstrip in Mudgee, northwest of Sydney.
The circumstances behind the accident are still under investigation.
Latrobe Valley Aero Club president John Warren said the whole aero club community was "just completely devastated" by the news.
"We are all in shock, the club gives out our deepest condolences to the family through this tragedy," Mr Warren said.
Mr Warren said the Fisher couple had been active and much-loved members of the aero club, with Mr Fisher a member for the past 40 years.
"They were fantastic people, never an evil word came out of their mouth. They were always helping and participating in club activities," he said.
The Fisher's are understood to have crashed in a Van's RV-6 two-seater aircraft, which Mr Warren said Mr Fisher had built himself to "meticulous standards".
"This incident is certainly out of character for Terry - he has always been meticulous with his flight planning, his flying and the maintenance of his own aircraft," Mr Warren said.
"The Air Transport Safety Bureau will be investigating, the crash site was being locked down and guarded over night, there will be an autopsy inquiry and an air investigation, so until all that happens we won't know what happened."
Mr Warren said Mr Fisher flew his aircraft on a weekly basis, adding the couple would fly interstate six or eight times a year.
- Source: http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au
Collision with terrain involving Vans RV-6 VH-TXF near Mudgee Airport NSW
September 14, 2014
Investigation number: AO-2014-149
Investigation status: Active
Investigation in progress
The ATSB is investigating a fatal accident involving an amateur built Van’s RV-6 aircraft that occurred at Mudgee on 14 September. The two people on board the aircraft died in the accident.
The ATSB has deployed two investigators, with specialisations in human factors, engineering and aircraft operations. They are expected to arrive at the accident site midday Monday 15 September 2014. Over the next few days they will examine the wreckage and accident site, collect maintenance and pilot records, and interview witnesses. The investigators are seeking witness reports that might assist the investigation.
Any witnesses are requested to please contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.
Source: http://www.atsb.gov.au
A VICTORIAN couple killed in a light plane crash near a New South Wales airport died “doing what they loved best”, their grieving family says.
Experienced pilot Terry Fisher and his wife Bev, both aged in their 60s, were flying to Mudgee airport when their two-seater, single-engine plane came down just 200m from the runway about 11am Sunday.
The pair, from Newborough in the Latrobe Valley, died at the scene.
Air safety investigators will spend the next few days examining the crash site.
John Warren, president of Latrobe Valley Aero Club where Mr Fisher had been a member for more than 40 years and his wife a dedicated volunteer, said Mr Fisher was “meticulous with his flying” and the crash was “totally out of character”.
“He was meticulous with his aircraft maintenance,” Mr Warren told the Herald Sun.
“The club was just in shock. We’re devastated.”
Mr Warren said the Fishers had been flying to Mudgee from nearby Dubbo, where they had attended a meeting for the Sports Aircraft Association of Australia, of which Mr Fisher was president of the Latrobe Valley chapter.
“A few of them were going a bit further (into NSW) to see out the weekend,” Mr Warren said.
Three other planes travelling with the couple had landed safely just before the crash.
Mr Warren said the Fishers, who had children and grandchildren in Melbourne, were “dedicated to each other, to their family and to the aero club”.
“There was never a bad word coming out of either of their mouths,” Mr Warren said.
“Things like this shouldn’t happen to good people.”
The couple’s daughter-in-law, Tracy Fisher, said her family was “in shock” to “lose both Bev and Terry at the same time”.
“Devastated and heartbroken for my husband ... as his parents died in a plane crash,” she wrote in a tribute on Facebook.
In another post accompanied by a photo of the couple beaming in front of a light plane, Ms Fisher wrote: “Bev and Terry doing what they loved best ... Just can’t believe it!!”
Witnesses reported hearing “spluttering” noises before the engine cut out and the plane crashed into a wire fence in a paddock.
One witness, Grant Willetts, told Channel 7 the plane “just dropped like a rock, straight down”.
Paramedics tried to revive Mrs Fisher, but she died at the scene. Her husband was found dead inside the plane.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said two investigators arrived at midday yesterday to start gathering information and talking to witnesses.
Any witnesses are urged to call the ATSB’s hotline on 1800 020 616.
Story and Photo Gallery: http://www.heraldsun.com.au
A Victorian couple involved in a light-plane crash in mid-west NSW died "doing what they loved best".
Bev and Terry Fisher, both in their 60s and from Pakenham, were heading north to Mudgee on Sunday when their two-seater plane crashed metres from the runway.
Their daughter-in-law Tracy Fisher posted a tribute to the couple on Facebook last night.
"Devastated and heartbroken for my husband today as his parents died in a plane crash," she wrote.
And in a second post, with a picture of the couple standing in front of a light plane: "Bev and Terry doing what they loved best. Just can't believe it!!".
Mr Fisher had 40 years' flying experience.
Witnesses told the Seven Network the plane's single engine was spluttering as it approached the runway.
"It just dropped, just like a rock, straight down," witness Grant Willetts said.
The pilots of another three planes traveling with the couple landed safely.
"This is tragic. Not only are the people they were traveling with ... devastated but it impacts on a lot of, lot of people," Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said.
The couple died at the scene.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has joined an investigation by police and specialist forensic officers.
A crime scene has been established.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au
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