Father, son in sad farewell

A Gold Coast father and son who died in a plane crash in northern NSW last week will be mourned at a funeral service on Friday as family say their “beautiful souls will soar the skies forever”.

Gold Coast man Lane Kokshoorn, aged in his 30s, and his young son Archer, aged under 10, died on December 13 when Mr Kokshoorn’s recreational kit aeroplane crashed into powerlines and burst into flames on impact at a Lilydale property near Grafton.

The long-time flying enthusiasts left the Southport Flying Club aerodrome at Coombabah

on the northern Gold Coast on Monday, before stopping for the night and taking off on the fatal flight on Tuesday morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Winegrove Rd about 9am. The “devoted” dad and his son were declared dead at the scene.

Mr Kokshoorn has since been revealed as a skilled aircraft captain who once flew Boeing 787s for one of Japan’s biggest airlines – All Nippon Airlines.

Mr Kokshoorn’s family members posted tributes to the father and son on social media, and created a Google Drive for family and friends to “share any photos of their adventures with Lane, or special moments with our Archer”.

“They both lived fabulous moments,” the post read.

“(Their) two beautiful souls shall soar the skies forever.”

Friends of the family shared tributes to Mr Kokshoorn and his son, calling it a “devastating loss” and a “horrific time”.

A number of heartfelt tributes were also left on Mr Kokshoorn’s father’s profile.

The funeral will be held at The Southport School’s Annand Theatre on Friday at 2pm. NSW Police are continuing investigations with assistance from Recreational Aviation Australia.