Pilot dies in Bribie Island crash

A light aircraft crash in Pumicestone Passage on the 18th August claimed the life of the pilot, who was the sole occupant. No radio call or distress signal was heard from the homebuilt American Acroduster aerobatic biplane before it crashed, with witnesses reporting it “descended very quickly” into the mudflats.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the aircraft departed Caloundra Airfield for a flight over the Bribie Island area. At around 9.20am the crew of a helicopter operating from Caboolture on a training flight saw what appeared to be aircraft parts falling from the sky and then observed the fuselage of an aircraft located in the mudflats near Long Island. A dedicated rescue helicopter winched a rescue crew to the accident site, and it was confirmed that the pilot was deceased.

Bribie Island sees many light aircraft overhead emanating from both Caloundra and Caboolture airfields, including WW1-vintage biplanes and WW2-vintage Wirraway aircraft as well as modern Cessnas, Pipers, Jabirus, Foxbats and helicopters used for training. In a tribute to the confidence pilots and owners have in their vintage and modern aircraft many of these planes were up over Bribie the very next day after the incident.

Life must go on and risk is part of life. There is a lesson in that for everyone at present.