Body found believed to be that of missing gyrocopter pilot

EFFORTS are underway to retrieve the body of a pilot and the gyrocopter he had been flying in the Timber Creek area. A search had been underway for the missing man since last Thursday

Search and rescue crews have found a body believed to be that of a missing pilot who went missing while heading to a mustering job in his gyrocopter. Picture: Dave Hunt

UPDATE: Search and rescue crews have found a body believed to be that of a missing pilot who went missing while heading to a mustering job in his gyrocopter.

The gyrocopter crash site was found at 3.15pm today.

The gyrocopter is believed to have run into difficulties after a collision with a set of power lines near Timber Creek on Thursday, May 30.

Efforts to recover the light aircraft and the man’s body are still underway.

A police spokeswoman said a report would be prepared for the coroner

EARLIER: Search and rescue crews have found a body believed to be that of a missing pilot who went missing while heading to a mustering job in his gyrocopter.

The missing man is a father of primary school-aged children and a seasoned musterer and a long-term Katherine resident.

He was heading to a mustering job when it is believed his light craft may have crashed.

It is understood the 48-year-old man and the gyrocopter were found in the Victoria River.

The alarm was raised on Thursday when the pilot failed to arrive at Stapleton as scheduled.

The man left the Timber Creek airstrip at 9.30am Thursday and was expected to arrive at Stapleton at 1pm.

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When he didn’t arrive as expected the alarm was raised.

Over the weekend police expanded the search area for the man and the aircraft.