Five die in light plane tragedy
FIVE men have been killed in a light plane crash in an “unthinkable” tragedy near the site of one of Australia’s worst air disasters in far north Queensland.
Four Q Build workers and the pilot, all of Cairns, died when a twin-engine Cessna 404 Titan smashed into sand dunes in poor weather near Lockhart River on Cape York yesterday.
“It made two attempts to land, on the third occasion the plane has tragically crashed,’’ Far North Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman said.
“Nobody has survived that crash.”
Police last night guarded the “devastating scene” of the aircraft wreckage, and the bodies of the five victims, with a team of investigators due to fly into the remote Aboriginal township, 760km north of Cairns today.
It is close to where a twinprop Metroliner crashed on Iron Range, near the airstrip, killing all 15 people on board in 2005.
“It is quite surreal to have another tragedy like this at Lockhart River,’’ Acting Chief Supt Hodgman said. “It’s unthinkable really.”
Witnesses said heavy cloud and rain from a brewing tropical low yesterday blanketed the runway, reducing visibility as the plane was flying low on approach over the beach from the sea about 9.15am.
It is unclear if the pilot made a mayday call or was in radio contact in the moments before the crash.
It was “too early” to comment about the possible cause of the latest crash or other factors, police said.
“We know weather conditions are pretty rough up there at the moment,’’ Acting Chief Supt Hodgman said.
“If you know Lockhart River it is quite interesting terrain, there are monsoonal winds, providing some challenging conditions.
“There are some challenges to get to the crash site, with the weather conditions and availability of flights.
“It took us quite some time to locate the plane. It was overdue from 11am and it was not until 1.20pm that we located the wreckage.”
Q Build staff, with four of the victims based out of the government department in Cairns, have been offered grief counselling as police work to contact next-of-kin.
Q Build last night declined to comment.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last night tweeted: “A tragic loss of life on Cape York today. I offer my deep condolences to the families and friends who are grieving for their loved ones tonight.”
Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said the weather yesterday was eerily “exactly the same” as the day of the 2005 tragedy.
“It was terrible weather this morning. It’s been full-on rain,’’ he said.
The ATSB said experienced investigators would be sent to the location of the crash.
“On site, investigators will examine the wreckage and site surrounds, including with the use of a 3D mapping drone,” a statement said.
The plane is registered to West Australian company Aerohire and was used for charter flights, most recently in North Queensland.
A spokesman for Aerohire said the plane had been on a long-term lease to Airconnect Australia. He said he did not believe the plane had any safety record issues.
“We are sending our condolences and our thoughts to all the families and those involved,” he said.