Experienced pilot Peter Wieland dies in helicopter crash at Maitland Vale
A father of four has been described as a ‘pioneer’ in aviation after he tragically died in a helicopter crash near Maitland. He was flying an ANL chopper on a ferry flight. Read the details.
Newcastle
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Father of four Peter Wieland has been described as a “pioneer” and “legend” in aviation.
The highly experienced pilot was on a helicopter ferry flight from Casino to the Central Coast on Thursday when it crashed into a riverbank 10 kilometres north of Maitland.
Emergency services rushed to Campbells Rd at Maitland Vale just after 4pm, but the 51-year-old tragically died at the scene.
The owner of Wieland Aviation was flying an Australian Native Landscapes (ANL) bell ‘Jet Ranger’ helicopter, which had recently undergone an extensive rebuild, back to his hangar at Warnervale.
A spokesman for ANL said it was a “freak” accident on an aircraft the company had owned for 38 years.
“It comes at just a total surprise, we can’t explain it,” they said. “There was total faith in him as a pilot, he was highly experienced and been around aviation for years.”
They said Mr Wieland had been around helicopters a long time.
“He’s very famous in aviation, he’s a pioneer, also involved the community side of aviation,” they added.
“He’s a leader in aviation and really a legend.”
Tributes also flowed online for the well-known aviation expert.
His son Peter labelling his dad, “The man, the myth, the legend” on a touching post online.
Others saying the 51-year-old was a “larger than life character”, who was a devoted family man.
Officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District set up a crime scene at the crash site on Thursday night as they investigate the crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified and will also conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
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