Two people dead after aircraft collide at Caboolture airfield

A career pilot and his wife have been killed a horrific runway collision at Caboolture Airfield, as investigators share new detail about how the tragedy unfolded.

A retired commercial pilot and his wife were killed when their light plane collided with another as it took off from a small suburban airstrip in Brisbane’s north.

In a tragedy similar to January’s Sea World helicopter disaster that killed four people, the two small planes collided as one took off and the other came in to land.

Career pilot David Maddern was in his Jabiru J430, his wife Jan with him, when the two planes collided on the Caboolture airfield at 10.30am.

One of the planes that was involved in a mid-air collision over Caboolture airfield. Picture: 9 News

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said an investigation was under way.

“It was reported that the collision occurred shortly after 10.30am local time, when a Jabiru J430 was taking off from one runway while a Piper Pawnee was landing on a crossing runway,” he said.

The scene of the crash at Caboolture airfield on Friday morning. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Tragically, both occupants of the Jabiru were fatally injured. The Pawnee pilot was uninjured.”

It is understood the Pawnee was a tow plane used to launch gliders.

Police Superintendent Paul Ready said investigators had spoken with the surviving pilot.

“We have called in our forensic crash unit to do an investigation and the ATSB has been advised. “It did occur low to the ground at the eastern end of the air field.”

He said police believed the crash occurred “in the process of landing and/or taking off”.

The plane crash at Caboolture. Photo: Sky News

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the crash was a tragedy and support was being offered to witnesses.

“Two planes hitting each other close to the ground is obviously something that many people could have possibly witnessed,” he said.

“I know the Caboolture airfield is a very busy place.

“There’s usually a lot of people there and obviously there’ll be people who have been impacted by witnessing this event.

“So there’ll be support provided for those people as well.

“I understand that two people in one plane are deceased and that’s so sad on so many levels and the occupant of the other plane is relatively uninjured.”

It is understood one of the aircraft were under tow when it collided with another aircraft. Picture: 9 News

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Matthew Davis said the surviving pilot was believed to be in his 70s.

He described the scene as “incredibly confronting”.

A man at a nearby workshop said he saw a plane towing a glider in the air 15 minutes before he heard emergency sirens on their way to the airfield.

Another man in a hangar at the airport said he was unaware two planes had collided on Friday morning until an ambulance arrived on scene.

“I had to let the ambulance vehicle in through the gate … I had no idea about the crash,” he said.

Scores of emergency services on scene. Photo: Sky News

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said initial video footage indicated that the Piper Pawnee glider tug aircraft was returning to land at the airfield on runway 06, while the Jabiru J430 was in the process of taking off from runway 11.  

“The Pawnee was on approach to land before it commenced a go-around – an aborted landing. Go-arounds are a common and well-established practice in aviation and can be conducted for any number of reasons, but we will seek to understand why a go-around was conducted in this instance,” the ATSB statement said.

“As well as continuing to analyse video footage, investigators will also conduct interviews with the Pawnee aircraft pilot and witnesses, download any available flight tracking data, and retrieve any avionics devices on either aircraft that may have recorded data.”

Police have said forensic officers would be involved in the investigation. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Friends and family posted tributes online to David and Jan Maddern after the tragedy

Friend Narelle Julian said she was “absolutely devastated to hear” of their passing on Facebook.

“To think Dave has flown the world as one of the most experienced and highly regarded captains on the A380 for Emirates and then enjoying life with his beautiful wife Jan in their own aircraft,” she said.

Narelle said she had “such wonderful memories” of “darling Dave” during their Trans Australian Airlines days in 1981.

“I just can’t believe this sad news,” she said, describing him as the “kindest soul”.

Nick Maddern, who said he was David’s second cousin, said he was devastated.

“I just spoke to david and jan a few days ago,” he said.

Another person said it was “totally heartbreaking”.

Mr Mitchell said the ATSB continues to call for any witnesses who may have seen the accident, and in particular for any pilots operating in the area who may have heard radio calls from either accident aircraft, to make contact with us via the witness

form on our website.

“The ATSB anticipates publishing a preliminary report, which will detail factual information established in the investigation’s evidence collection phase, in about 8 weeks’ time,” the statement read.

“A final report, detailing analysis and outlining contributing factors, will be published at the conclusion of the investigation.”