Mid North plane crash victims identified as father and son Charlie and Ben Mumford

A top private school is leading the tributes for a father and son killed in a light plane crash, as it emerged a family member was first on scene in a desperate bid to help his dad and brother.

The victims of a horrific plane crash in the Mid North have been identified as 24-year-old passenger Charlie Mumford, and his father, the pilot Ben Mumford, who died overnight.

On Sunday afternoon the Cessna plane, flown by 50-year-old Mr Mumford, struck power lines before coming down at Redhill, south of Crystal Brook.

While Charlie, a Scotch College old scholar, died at the scene his dad was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition where he later died.

The father and son are both from Redhill where Mr Mumford works as a farmer.

The pilot of the light plane that crashed near Crystal Brook, Ben Mumford, has died overnight.

Both Charlie and Ben are survived by their mother and wife, Bronwyn, and two brothers and sons, Lachlan and David.

One of the other two Mumford boys was first on the scene of the crash site, not far from the family homestead, and suffered burns to his hands and arms in a desperate bid to help his dad and brother.

He was taken to hospital for treatment of his burns.

The Mumford family is well-known across the Mid North and heavily involved in the Brinkworth Spalding Redhill Football Club, where Charlie won a premiership trophy just weeks ago.

Charlie Mumford (middle) was killed with his dad, Ben, in a plane crash in the Mid North. Pictured with brothers Lachlan (right) and David (left). Picture: Instagram

The club’s groundskeeper, Keith Jackson, 62, said Charlie and Ben were “the best community people you could ever wish for”.

“They are the best family,” Mr Jackson said.

“Their three boys just won a B Grade premiership just three weeks ago.”

24-year-old Charlie Mumford (middle) with Wyatt Sanders and Sam Carberry. Picture: Instagram

24-year-old Charlie Mumford playing football. Picture: Facebook

24-year-old Charlie Mumford has been killed in a plane crash with has dad Ben in the Mid North. Picture: Instagram

24-year-old Charlie Mumford has been killed in a plane crash with his dad Ben in the Mid North. Picture: Instagram

A resident of Redhill, Robert Winen, 60, hailed the men as “lovely people”.

“They’ve done a lot for the town and the football club,” Mr Winen said.

“It’s going to be a terrible shock to everyone.”

Mr Winen said the family did “a lot of work for the town”.

“It’ll be hard felt for miles,” he said.

Mr Winen said Ben would often travel by plane to Kangaroo Island to visit family as “they’ve got land there”.

Scotch College principal Trent Driver said Charlie was a much-loved boarding student at the school who graduated in 2017, and that the Mumford family had deep connections with the school community.

Police at the scene of the plane crash that claimed the lives of Ben and Charlie Mumford at Redhill. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

“The Mumford family has long and deep connections with Scotch and our hearts go out to Charlie’s mother, Bronwyn, and his younger brothers, former Scotch students Lachie and David,” Mr Driver said.

“Charlie was an outstanding young man. He was a valued member of our boarding and Gordon House communities, a keen academic, and was actively involved in football, cricket and the breadth of college life.

“Charlie’s father Ben and mother Bronwyn have been great supporters of the college over many years and are well known to so many as active members of our parent and boarding communities.”

Officers inspect the plane’s wreckage. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Mr Driver said Charlie and Ben’s deaths would be felt widely across the school and that support was being offered.

“Both Charlie and Ben’s passing will be deeply felt across our entire community, with many of our staff having taught Charlie and his brothers over the years,” he said.

“The college is offering support to Charlie’s class of 2017 and any staff or students who may have been affected by the news of the accident.

“The Scotch College community will come together to remember Charlie and Ben in the near future.

“On behalf of Scotch College, I share our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences with the Mumford family at this incredibly difficult time.”

The shattered wreckage of the plan in a paddock on Mumfords Rd, Redhill. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

The mayor of Port Pirie Regional Council, which encompasses Redhill, Leon Stephens, said “everyone in the community was touched” by the Mumford family.

Mr Stephens said the council had worked with the family “forever”.

“It’s shocking when a tragic accident takes out two members of the same family,” Mr Stephens said.

He said the community had already begun rallying around them.

“The community is already out supporting the family,” Mr Stephens said.

And there is “no doubt” that the community would gather to remember Ben and Charlie, he said.

Police and locals at the crash scene in a paddock on Mumfords Rd, Redhill. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Two workers at Foodland in Crystal Brook remembered the men, who would regularly come into the store.

“They were just genuine Aussie blokes,” Tarsh, 23, said of Ben and Charlie.

“I grew up in Redhill and I grew up with the farming kids.

“We used to do nativity scenes with them (the Mumford boys) at Christmas.”

Tarsh said she briefly attended Gladstone High School with the Mumfords.

“All those boys were smart as,” she said.

“They’d always be kicking a footy on the oval.”

Another worker, Mitch, 33, said that Ben and Charlie were “absolute gentlemen”.

“They were upstanding members of the community and they’d do anything for you,” Mitch said.

He said it had been “rough” since the town heard about the incident and that it was “going to take a while” before residents come to terms with their loss.

A light plane with two men on-board has crashed and caught fire at Redhill near Crystal Brook. Picture: 7News

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched a transport safety investigation, with investigators expected to be onsite Monday. SA Police Major Crash officers were also on scene on Monday morning.

“The ATSB is preparing to deploy a team of transport safety investigators with aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering expertise to the accident site on Monday,’’ ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

“Once on site they will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities including site mapping, wreckage examination, and recovery of aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.’’

Mr Mitchell also asked “anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or may have video footage of the aircraft in any phase of its flight, to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity’’.