Peter Thomas McDougall charged with manslaughter over fatal Ball Bay plane crash
Lawyers for an amateur pilot charged with manslaughter over the death of his 83-year-old passenger have hired a specialist aviation team.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An amateur pilot accused of killing his 83-year-old passenger when his plane crashed during a Christmas Eve joy flight north of Mackay plans to contest the allegations.
Peter Thomas McDougall, who is a sovereign citizen, is charged with the manslaughter of Kuttabul grandfather Gerardus Miltenburg on December 24, 2021 at Ball Bay.
It is alleged the pair were taking what was intended to be a joy flight over islands off the coast when the amateur-built Jodel D11 light aircraft encountered engine trouble and crash-landed on Ball Bay beach about 7.30am.
Tragically Mr Miltenburg, known as Gerry, died at the scene.
Solicitor Eugene O’Sullivan, of O’Sullivan’s Law Firm for Mr McDougall, said he had received the brief of evidence from police and it involved “fairly technical aviation documentation”.
As such he told Mackay Magistrates Court he had hired “a specialist aviation firm... and similarly counsel” who would need up to two months to “analyse and get our response to the technical CASA documentation that is in the brief”.
“You can expect this to be a contested cross examination hearing... that’s ultimately what will happen,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
As well as manslaughter, Mr McDougall is charged with three offences under the Civil Aviation Act dating back to 2015 over the plane.
These include flying an aircraft without a licence, unlawfully carrying out maintenance and flying without satisfying safety requirements.
Police allege Mr McDougall was the owner of the plane at the time of the crash, that he should not have been flying and that the aircraft should not have been flown.
He is also charged with producing and possessing marijuana, possessing used pipes and an undefined offence.
The court heard Mr McDougall also applied to vary his bail conditions.
Currently he had to report in person every Wednesday to the officer in charge of Mackay police station.
“He does some travelling and he may have in the future the need to be away on a Wednesday,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne varied bail that any change to reporting days or stations must first be approved in writing by the Mackay police station officer in charge.
The matter was adjourned for mention to July 11.
More Coverage
Originally published as Peter Thomas McDougall charged with manslaughter over fatal Ball Bay plane crash
‘Danger to the community’: Mum barred from the road until 2040
A Qld mother of three had been slammed for her terrible driving behaviour following a three month crime spree spanning from the Fraser Coast to Mackay, and involving aiming a vehicle at police officers.
Award-winning DJ with 200k followers faces criminal charge
A Qld musician who has played to major festivals and crowds and claimed he was “partially paralysed” by the Covid vaccine, has been charged following an alleged break-in.
Update in tiny boy’s murder case after mum charged
The case against a Qld mother, who police allege killed her own son and then claimed he drowned in the backyard pool, has returned to court.
Sarina shooting: Alleged accomplice swaps lawyers
A young woman accused of being involved in a horror incident where a man was shot in the stomach and then forced into his own vehicle has changed lawyers.
Teen girl injured after bicycle and car collide
A teen girl has suffered head and leg injuries after the bike she was riding and a vehicle collided at Mount Pleasant.
Former rugby player busted breaking down door
A former local rugby league player found himself in trouble with the law again after breaking down a door in a home he shouldn’t have been in — but he was quick to make amends.