Coulson Aviation chief executive officer Wayne Coulson says crashed air tanker was ‘well-maintained’
The chief executive officer of Coulson Aviation said he still does not know the cause of an aircraft crash on Friday that saw three US firefighters tragically lose their lives.
NSW
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The chief executive officer of Coulson Aviation said he still does not know the cause of an aircraft crash on Friday that saw three US firefighters tragically lose their lives.
Captain Ian McBeth, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan died on Thursday when their C-130 Hercules plane crashed near Numeralla in the Snowy Mountains.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is leading the crash investigation, forensically examining the site and the debris, in a bid to determine how the plane went down.
A preliminary report prepared on the cause of the crash is expected to be prepared within 30 days.
On Saturday, investigators retrieved the cockpit black box recording which could reveal answers from the final few hours of the crash.
Coulson Aviation chief executive officer Wayne Coulson addressed media on Monday, along with NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Mr Coulson said he was working with the American Consulate and family members to bring the firefighters home.
The bodies of the military veterans were removed from the crash site on Friday night.
Mr Coulson said the loss of the crew was “indescribable”.
“These pilots were valued members of our firefighting family,” he said.
“We recognise that the loss of Ian, Paul and Rick are three of six firefighting deaths this season.
“Our thoughts are with all these heroes who have given their lives to protect this beautiful country.”
Mr Coulson said family members of the deceased would be visiting the site on Wednesday.
He said every aircraft was maintained daily and inspected by a chief pilot before flying.
As to the cause of the crash, Mr Fitzimmons said it was still under investigation by the ATSB, but he confirmed the plane was rerouted to Peak View from a nearby fire, due to smoke concerns.
“What we do know, on that day we had a number of fires burning in the Snowy Mountains area,” he said.
“It’s too dangerous to speculate (the cause). It has slid for some time and came to rest.
“There’s a plethora of information they are pulling together.”
Mr Coulson said visiting the site was “devastating”.
He said NSW RFS dispatched welfare teams while Canadian crews came to terms with losing their colleagues after the crash.
Coulson Aviation was back in the skies on Sunday as two 737 large air tankers doused fires in the state’s south.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood said transport safety investigators resumed site mapping on Monday after bushfire conditions had eased.
“Site mapping is a critical element of this investigation’s initial evidence gathering phase, as it will allow our investigators to build a detailed picture of the nature and sequence of the accident, and it will provide a visual preservation of the accident site for future analysis,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood.
He said investigators were able to interview a number of witnesses on Monday.