Sunday, December 27, 2015

deHavilland DH-82A Tiger Moth, A17-272: Fatal accident occurred December 28, 2015 on Queensland's Gold Coast - Australia

UPDATE: 

The pilot involved in a fatal plane crash in Pimpama this morning has been identified as Ryan Campbell, who once held the record as the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world.

The 21-year-old from Merimbula piloted a Tiger Moth aircraft that crashed in bushland off Green Meadows Drv this morning, which claimed the life of 58-year-old passenger, Coutts Crossing resident Gary Turnbull.

Mr. Campbell is currently conscious in the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane with serious injuries.

​He has been working for Tiger Moth Joy Rides for less than a month as the operations manager.

It is believed the Tiger Moth joy ride was a Christmas present to Mr. Turnbull from his daughters.

Tragically one of his daughters was watching on from the Tiger Moth hangar when the aircraft crashed.

Police have confirmed Mr. Campbell dialed 000 to alert authorities of the crash himself.

Mr. Campbell made headlines in 2013 when he achieved the world record as the youngest pilot ever to fly solo around the world, and was also the first teenager to complete the feat.

He did it in 70 days, making 34 stops in 15 countries and spending 200 hours in the air.

He flew around the world in his plane Spirit of the Sapphire Coast, after working with adventurer Dick Smith and Ken Evers of Bendigo, who had also flown around the world.

Mr. Campbell spends his spare time talking to teens on school tours as a motivational speaker.

He also raises money to help get other youngsters involved in aviation as he worked at a local supermarket when he was 14 to spend his earnings on flying lessons.

Kenneth Evers, who flew around the world in 2010, nominated Mr Campbell for the Pride of Australia Young Leader Medal last year.

He also met the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, after he broke the world record when he was 19. ​

EARLIER:

A man is dead and pilot is critically injured after a Tiger Moth plane crashed in a field at Pimpama this morning.

Emergency services were alerted to the light plane crash in a field off Green Meadows Rd just after 9am when the 21-year-old pilot called 000 himself.

The victim was a 58-year-old man from NSW and it has been confirmed his daughter witnessed the tragedy from a nearby hangar.

When emergency services arrived the pilot was trapped by his legs and hanging out of the plane.

He has been flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with severe leg, face, spinal and head injuries.

Critical care paramedic and first on scene Tash Adams said the pilot was in a lot of pain when help arrived.

“The pilot was conscious and stable when we reached him, but his injuries are critical,” she said.

Forensics and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority are investigating the crash.

BREAKING:

One person is dead and another is trapped in the wreckage of a light aircraft that has crashed north of the Gold Coast.

The Queensland Ambulance Service received a call at 9.30am that the Tiger Moth had crashed near its base at Jacobs Well Road, Pimpama.

An ambulance services spokesman confirmed one man, 58, died in the crash and another, 21, was trapped by the legs before emergency service personnel freed him.

The man killed is believed to have been a passenger on a joy flight at the time while the 21-year-old man was the pilot.

He was taken to Princess Alexandra hospital in Brisbane with spinal injuries.

The circumstances of the crash are unknown but there were strong winds in the area at the time of the incident.

The plane came down in hard-to-access bushland in the Pimpama-Jacobs Well Rd area.

Story and photo gallery: http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au




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