Horror pictures capture smouldering plane wreck after grandad, 3 kids killed in fatal flight
Grim pictures have captured the smouldering wreck of a light plane that crashed near Canberra, killing a grandfather and his three children who were on board.
Grim pictures have captured the aftermath of a doomed flight piloted by a grandfather who died alongside his three kids when their plane crashed near Canberra.
The 65 year old man, who was an experienced pilot, took off aboard the four-seater Cirrus SR22 from Canberra Airport on Friday afternoon.
Within minutes it crashed, bursting into flames near Lake George in the NSW Tablelands.
The grandfather, his 11-year-old grandson and two granddaughters, aged nine and six, all died.
Pictures from the scene near Hadlow Dr in Gundaroo – a small village in the NSW Tablelands – capture the horrific aftermath of the crash.
Investigators clad in white forensic garb can be seen combing through the smouldering wreck in a paddock.
The plane itself was completely destroyed upon impact – a patch of scorched earth marking the crash.
The investigators are pictured surveying the wreckage and collecting evidence taken back to a blue shade shelter in the same paddock.
The horrific images follow air traffic radio of what appears to be the last known messages between the pilot and air traffic controllers being released.
Referred to as Mike Sierra Foxtrot, the plane is heard replying “copy” as he is cleared for takeoff around 2.30pm.
After some further navigation directions, air traffic controllers are heard repeating: “Mike Sierra Foxtrot, this is Canberra approach.”
In the audio clip, there is no response from the grandfather.
It prompts another air traffic controller to respond: “All stations, be advised a flight has just dropped off radar so there may be some delays at the moment until we can get some further instructions.”
In a statement, NSW Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
The grandfather and children are yet to be identified.
“Initial inquiries indicate the Cirrus SR22 aircraft took off from Canberra Airport about 2.30pm and was travelling to Armidale with four people – a man and three children – believed to be on board at the time,” NSW Police said.
Police Superintendent Cath Bradbury earlier said there were no survivors following the crash.
“When police arrived with RFS services there was a small grass fire and obviously a catastrophic crash of a small light aircraft,” she said.
“The RFS extinguished the plane.”
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has also been notified and are investigating.
“Over coming days, investigators with experience in aircraft operations and maintenance will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities on site including site mapping, wreckage examination, and recovery of aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra,” ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell told the ABC.
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