ATBS releases early report into fatal Eungella plane crash

Investigations into a plane crash that killed a Qld couple have revealed the movements of the pilot and aircraft in the lead up to the crash.

The ATSB has released a preliminary report in to the light plane crash that claimed the lives of Walkerston couple Jenny and Alwyn Rogash in October 2023.

Experienced pilot Alwyn Rogash spoke to a friend on the phone about 20 minutes before his light plane crashed at Eungella killing him and his wife, an early investigation report revealed.

Moments before the crash Mr Rogash turned right, then left before the aircraft crashed into the mountainside.

The 73-year-old and his wife, 75, had been travelling from Townsville early on October 28, 2023 in their SOCATA 5B20 Trinidad plane and were expected to land at Palmyra Airstrip about 8.15am.

Tragically they never made it and it was several weeks before the couple could be recovered from the site.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau preliminary report stated about 40 minutes into the flight Mr Rogash pilot reportedly told a friend via phone call that they were at 5500ft and above cloud, and asked about weather conditions at Palmyra.

The ATSB has released a preliminary report in to the light plane crash that claimed the lives of Walkerston couple Jenny and Alwyn Rogash in October 2023.

“The pilot stated they were passing Dalrymple Heights and on descent, and that their intentions were to fly along the Pioneer Valley to Palmyra,” the report stated.

The aircraft’s ways flight track showed about 20 minutes after the phone call Mr Rogash made a right turn, followed by a left turn “before the aircraft collided with the northern side of Bull Mountain, at about 1900ft above sea level”.

Walkerston grandparents Alwyn and Jenny Rogash died when their plane crashed into the mountainside in the Pioneer Valley west of Mackay on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Picture: Contributed

A Finch Hatton community member, who raised the initial alarm, had spotted the plane flying overhead “and suddenly a distant noise” which prompted him to call emergency services.

An RACQ CQ Rescue crew found the crash site, 5km north of Netherdale, about 11.30am that day but it was not until 3pm that a member of the Queensland Police Service search crew was able to be winched down to the area which is described as mountainous and inaccessible by road or foot.

Smoke rising from the thick tree coverage of a mountain range north of Okuloo and Netherdale where it is understood a plane crashed on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Picture: RACQ CQ Rescue

Mr Rogash has been described as an experienced pilot with more than three decades flying and held a valid licence and class 2 aviation medical certificate.

ATSB investigators were unable to reach the crash site because of its inaccessible location, extreme surrounding terrain and degradation of the site itself.

It is understood Mackay police officers had to forge a path to the location where forensic crash specialist officers took details onsite photographs and “provided investigators an understanding of the accident site location and layout, and an appreciation of the level and type of damage to the aircraft’s structure and components”.

The ATSB has released a preliminary report in to the light plane crash that claimed the lives of Walkerston couple Jenny and Alwyn Rogash in October 2023.

“The photographs indicate the aircraft’s propeller was under a significant level of power when it impacted with terrain, indicating the engine was almost certainly operational at the time of the accident,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Dr Stuart Godley said.

“The accident flight was intended as a private flight from Montpellier aircraft landing area to Palmyra aircraft landing area.”

The evidence-gathering phase of the ATSB’s investigation has also included witness interviews, a review of flight data and air traffic control recordings, and an examination of the aircraft’s maintenance history.

“As the investigation progresses, the ATSB will conduct a further review of recorded data and recovered components from the accident site, and will analyse available flight data,” Dr Godley said.

“The investigation will also include analysis of aircraft maintenance and repair information.”

A final report will be released once the investigation is complete.

“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” Dr Godley said.