Coffs Harbour plane crash: Father and son’s final moments

Investigators have revealed what happened in the final moments of a light plane crash that killed the pilot and his adult son in northern NSW.

A series of tragic decisions resulted in the crash of a light plane that killed the pilot and his son in northern NSW, an investigation has found.

Gold Coast father and son Jeffrey Hills, 59, and Matthew Hills, 25, died when their Mooney M20J four-seat plane crashed into high terrain in Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour on September 20, 2019.

Jeffrey was the pilot and his son Matthew was the only passenger on the early morning flight from Murwillumbah to Taree.

The bodies of the pair were found along with the destroyed plane after they disappeared from radar 30 minutes into the flight and never reached their destination.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has now revealed the final moments before the fatal crash.

Matthew (left) and his pilot father Jeffrey Hills died in a light plane crash in northern NSW in 2019.

The site of the plane crash at Dorrigo National Park, west of Coffs Harbour. Picture: NSW Police

It found a trainee controller in Brisbane, who was being supervised, did not allow Mr Hills to fly through airspace over Coffs Harbour, and that likely resulted in Mr Hills’ decision to descend the aircraft and fly a more hazardous route over the Dorrigo National Park “instead of other available safe options”.

The report said even though there was inclement weather on the day of the flight, the air traffic controller’s decision was made despite “no conflicting traffic, meteorological factors or limiting air traffic control instructions or procedures that would have precluded providing the clearance”.

“This accident illustrates the significant influence that air traffic control can have on the conduct of a flight,” ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood said.

Search crews scoured the rugged terrain after the plane failed to reach its destination. Picture: Westpac Rescue Helicopter

The report also found Mr Hills was flying without a valid licence and his knowledge and skills needed for handling challenges had “likely deteriorated”.

Mr Hills was also using a handheld GPS device instead of using more suitable navigation equipment and had “most likely not obtained the required weather forecasts”.

“These factors reduced the pilot’s ability to manage the flight path changes and identify the high terrain,” Mr Hood said.

“This led to the aircraft being descended toward the high terrain in visibility conditions below that required for visual flight, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.”

Mr Hood said the tragic accident “emphasises to all pilots the importance of flight preparation and of ensuring they have completed all required training and checks”.

A photo taken of the plane prior to its crash on September 20, 2019.

“Thorough flight planning and flight reviews and proficiency checks allow pilots to develop and maintain the necessary skills to manage challenges in flight, such as inclement weather or inadvertent entry into non-visual conditions,” he said.

“Further, confirming that appropriate operational information is obtained and readily available ensures that a pilot is well prepared to anticipate in‑flight complications and successfully manage unforeseen challenges.”

A search began for Jeffrey and Matthew Hills’ plane after it failed to reach Taree around 8am on the morning of the flight.

Loved ones paid tribute to Jeffrey Hills and son Matthew (pictured).

Their bodies were found in dense bushland, along with the wreckage of the plane, early the next morning.

The pair were praised by loved ones as having always “embraced life to the fullest”.

“Together they loved their friends, and they loved their church,” Jeffrey’s nephew Craig Cameron told the ABC in 2019.

Family friend Tom Hortz described them as “selfless and generous people”.

“Jeff was like a mentor to me; he always made time when I needed to talk and would always offer his help in anyway that he could,” Mr Hortz said.