Woman killed as plane crashes on Australian beach after power loss
INQUEST TOLD PILOT OF LIGHT AIRCRAFT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
AN inquest heard how a young woman, whose parents live in Derbyshire, died in a plane crash in Queensland, Australia.
The inquest was opened on February 2, 2017 and was this week concluded following documentary evidence submitted by the McKay coroner’s court in Australia.
Jocelyn Sara Spurway died after receiving “multiple wounds” in the plane crash following what the coroner, Louise Pinder, described as a “sudden and complete loss of power” to the engine.
No fault was found in the engine and the cause of this loss of power has not been found.
Her body was returned to her family in Derbyshire, who moved to the county and are originally from Reading. No current address was provided for Miss Spurway, who was an administrator.
She boarded the passenger flight from Agnes Water Airstrip at 10.30am on January 10, 2017. The flight was 12 nautical miles and six minutes later the plane was at 60 feet doing what have been described as
“routine checks” of their landing area when the engine experienced a sudden loss of power.
The pilot, Mr Woodall, attempted to complete a 180-degree turn back to the island they had just passed over, causing the plane to lose altitude and the wing to hit the ground.
The plane was destroyed on impact and Miss Spurway was killed from the wounds she sustained. The other two passengers survived but were injured.
Mr Woodall is currently the subject of criminal proceedings in Australia, according to the Australian coroner’s report read out by Ms Pinder.
Ms Pinder closed the hearing on March 19 and said that Ms Spurway “died as a result of multiple injuries after a light aircraft collision.” She offered her condolences to the family.