Wreckage Found After Fatal NSW Plane Crash

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A tragic end to a search on the Far North Coast of NSW with the body of a 72 year old man found.

Following reports of a missing pilot on Tuesday morning, search teams located the wreckage of the ultra light aircraft on Thursday morning.

A searcher on horseback located the wreckage at 9am on a private property on Boormans Road, Limpinwood, about 25km west of Murwillumbah.

The 72 year old pilot died at the scene.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in Canberra has been co-ordinating the search after a member of the public reported an aircraft in difficulties near Limpinwood, around 10:45am on Tuesday.

Police from Tweed/Byron LAC confirmed a 72 year old man was piloting ultra light aircraft which had taken off from Murwillumbah Airport about 45 minutes earlier.

The search and rescue operations have been conducted in the surrounding area since then, involving up to eight helicopters, including the NSW Police airwing PolAir, police on trail bikes, as well as SES volunteers on foot and searchers on horseback.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter continued to assist in the search using night vision goggles.

An operation is now underway to retrieve the man’s body.

His family has been informed.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been informed by AMSA and investigations will be conducted to determine the cause of the crash, with police working with the relevant air safety authorities.

AMSA and NSW Police wish to thank all those involved in this difficult search operation and extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the pilot.

18 May 2017




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