Family release statement after two brothers and cousin killed Gippsland plane crash
Three boys – two brothers and their cousin – killed in a horror plane crash in Gippsland were on their way to hang Christmas lights for their grandma when tragedy struck.
Victoria
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Three boys killed in a horror plane crash in Victoria’s east were travelling to take part in a family Christmas tradition before tragedy struck over the weekend.
Luke and Benny Smith, aged 20 and 16 respectively, and their younger cousin Dusty Daly, 15, were flying over Tinamba West when their plane crashed into a paddock late on Saturday afternoon.
It can be revealed that Luke, Benny and Dusty were flying on their way to Maffra to help put up Christmas lights for their grandma.
The Smith and Daly families were all together in town at the time of the crash, believed to be organising their Christmas plans ahead of the holidays.
Tributes continue to flow for the three boys, with the tight-knit community in Tongala left especially heartbroken by the tragedy.
Leonie and Alistair (AJ) Smith and their four kids were well known in town, prominent in both the local sporting and professional communities.
The family of the three boys released a statement to the Herald Sun.
The family said they were going through an incredibly difficult time and were grateful for all the support they’d received.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the loss of Luke Smith (20), Tongala, his brother Benny Smith (16), Tongala, and their cousin Dusty Daly (15), Tinamba West, on Saturday 16th November,” Tongala family members Alistair Smith, Leonie Smith and Tinamba West family members Amy Daly and Mathew Daly said.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for our family, and we kindly request privacy as we navigate through our grief.
“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this loss, and we ask for your understanding as we focus on supporting one another during this challenging period.
“We are grateful for the love and support from friends, family, and the community at large.
“Thank you for your respect and compassion.”
The Smiths are a respected family in the Goulburn Valley town of Tongala and connected with several sporting bodies, including the Tongala Football Netball Club.
Tongala locals have been left devastated by the brothers’ deaths and counselling was being offered at the football club on Sunday.
The Tongala Football/Netball Club and Tongala Cricket Club offered a heartfelt statement remembering the lives of Luke and Benny, as well as offering their condolences to the larger Smith and Daly families.
Respective presidents Daniel Cox and Travis Johnstone said the sporting community had been “devastated” by the loss of the three boys.
“We offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Alistar (AJ) and Leonie, Ryan and Olivia, Amy and Mathew Daly, and their families,” their statement read.
“We also offer our unwavering commitment to support them all as a family during the unimaginable days ahead.
“Three beautiful, happy, vibrant, talented, and loved boys’ lives have been tragically cut short.”
Both Luke and Benny had been heavily involved with the clubs, helping to volunteer at the canteen or showing off their talents on the footy and cricket fields.
A smile that could “light up any room”, Luke was remembered as a driven young man who had an unwavering love for his family and for flying.
“We will forever miss seeing Luke jump over a pack, deliver fast-paced bowling, and hit sixes out of the ground,” the statement read.
Benny was more of a quiet achiever who was remembered as a “humble yet fierce competitor” with a bright future ahead of him.
“He had an exceptionally kind nature, and like all the Smith kids, he was polite, friendly, and warm,” it added.
In a special moment highlighted by the club, all three Smith brothers had shared the field during a footy game only a few months ago.
“During the 2024 season, Luke played in the reserves side with his brother, Ryan,” it continued.
“In August of this year, when we were short on numbers, Benny also filled in, so the three boys had the opportunity to play together for the first and now, tragically, the last time.
“A moment that their parents and the club will cherish forever.”
The club opened their doors on Sunday for those in the community still grappling with the loss, with the help of a psychologist from Headspace.
Their doors will remain open for the time being.
“This tragedy has shattered us all. Every member of our community has been impacted,” the statement read.
“Thinking of everyone. This is the worst possible news,” a local wrote on social media.
The brothers’ cousin, Dusty, was from Tinamba West.
Luke, a trained pilot, was flying the plane when it tragically crashed.
Adventure Flight Training at Moama Aerodrome praised his abilities as a pilot in June this year.
“Congratulations to Instructor Luke Smith for braving the Pitts and Acro endorsements! Very impressive mate,” read a Facebook post accompanying an image of Luke with a small red aircraft.
Flight records show Luke flew the plane from Echuca to Moorabbin Airport in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs on Thursday morning, a voyage of just over an hour.
That data reveals the plane later that day was up for about 48 minutes travelling to West Sale Airport.
It took off on Saturday at 5.30pm in moderate easterly winds, heading about 13km north to Maffra where it flew over the town for a short time.
A flight map shows it then headed east to Tinamba West where the crash happened 17 minutes after takeoff.
Flight data shows the aircraft did five asymmetric loops above the town of Maffra.
It also did four loops before crashing.
Flight Envelope and Edge Aviation consultant Lorraine MacGillivray said the family were “broken” and “in a lot of pain”.
“These families’ lives have been changed forever yesterday,” she said.
Ms MacGillivray said Luke, who she did a consulting job for on Thursday night with her husband Bob, was an experienced flyer.
“We were the last people to have some interaction with them (the three victims) as far as the aircraft went,” she said.
Ms MacGillivray said Luke was also “diligent”, “committed” and “passionate” about his flying.
“He was also a flight instructor – they (the three victims) were all absolutely delightful human beings – so it’s a terrible loss,” she said.
She said training in the industry had to be improved.
“We’re in a state in the industry at the moment where we are looking at training, we’re looking at maintenance, we’re looking at particularly loss-of-control flight accidents,” she said.
“I met these young men – my heart absolutely aches for their families whose lives are changed forever.
“I’ve been working on this situation with the training standard for some time with my daughter and we are looking at the training syllabus and we are rewriting and examining a lot of things to find out why these accidents are happening and try to prevent them from occurring in the future.
“It’s got to stop – and we can’t prevent every accident anymore than we can prevent every car accident – but we have to damn well try.”
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell on Saturday night confirmed they had launched an investigation into the incident.
“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced a transport safety investigation into an accident involving an amateur-built light aircraft at Tinamba West, Victoria, on Saturday,” he said.
“As reported to the ATSB, the aircraft collided with terrain in a paddock and was destroyed in a post impact fire.
“The ATSB is deploying to the accident site a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra office, specialising in aircraft operations and maintenance.
“Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities on site, including wreckage examination and recovery of any relevant aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
“Investigators will also seek to interview any witnesses and collect relevant recorded information including any flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
“The ATSB anticipates publishing a preliminary report, detailing the information collected in the investigation’s early evidence gathering phase, in about six to eight weeks.”
Queensland resident Gary Hardingham, who previously owned the plane, told the Herald Sun he sold the aircraft to a man two weeks ago.
It is believed the plane was an amateur-built 2013 Morgan Cougar MK1 with the registration VH-LDV.
Gippsland locals took to social media claiming they saw the light plane circling the air moments before the crash.
Debbie Bedggood said the plane flew over her property five minutes before it crashed, telling police “we knew it was in trouble.”
“It circled and was revving weird,” she said.
“So sorry for them and their families, thinking of all who responded.”
Fellow locals Janet and Teresa also reportedly saw the plane minutes before it crashed into the Tinamba West paddock.
“I heard it circling over my place and it sounded strange,” Janet wrote on Facebook.
Teresa added: “I heard it out in the distance, it didn’t sound right”.
SES and Victoria Police were at the scene until late on Saturday night.
Tributes continued to flow on Sunday morning over the deaths.
Christine Costello said in a Stratford community group her heart was “heavy with sadness”.
“Sincerest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues,” Ms Costello wrote.
“Thoughts are with the families and friends of the pilot and two passengers but also with the family and friends of the SES Stratford Unit, Police, Ambos, and CFA,” Aaron Aero Smith said.
“Terrible news. condolences to their families. So sad,” local woman Heather Wright shared.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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