A 32 year old pilot has died after a charter aircraft crashed into flood affected marshland near Normanton Airport in Queensland’s Gulf Country. Police had to reach the wreckage on foot through crocodile infested water.
The crash happened just after 8pm on Friday about 800 metres northwest of the airport, Queensland Police said.
Officers recovered the pilot’s body on Sunday morning after earlier attempts were stopped by knee deep water, heavy rain and thick scrub. Those conditions meant they could not get in by vehicle or boat.
Police guarding the recovery carried rifles because of the risk from crocodiles. Authorities said the Norman River at Normanton was in minor flood after a peak on Thursday.
The aircraft was a Beechcraft King Air B200 operated by air charter company Machjet International. Police said the pilot from Clifton Beach near Cairns was the only person on board.
The crash also started a small grass fire that cut power for some residents then a local saw an orange glow and raised the alarm.
Simon McDermott, managing director of Machjet International said in a statement that “We are providing support to our team members affected by this incident.”
The death came within hours of another fatal aviation incident. A single engine Cessna 210 crashed into the ocean at Long Bay near Goolwa South in South Australia about 4.30pm on Friday, authorities said.
The crash killed the pilot and two passengers aged 18 and 19. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating that crash.
Investigators are preparing to deploy to the site to survey the area, examine wreckage, interview witnesses and retrieve the cockpit voice recorder and other components for analysis in Canberra.
The bureau has appealed for anyone who witnessed the aircraft’s flight or has video to come forward.
