Pilot Leslie Ronald Woodall guilty of causing fatal Agnes Water crash

A pilot has walked free on a wholly suspended sentence after a jury found that his split-second choices following a plane’s engine failure had caused it to crash.

Leslie Ronald Woodall, found guilty at trial of dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm in a 2017 plane crash Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

A pilot has walked free on a wholly suspended sentence after a jury found that his split-second choices following a plane’s engine failure had caused it to crash, resulting in the death of a passenger.

On Wednesday evening, a Brisbane District Court jury found Leslie Ronald Woodall guilty of dangerously operating a vehicle causing the death of UK tourist Jocelyn Sara Spurway, 29, and further causing grievous bodily harm to 21-year-old Irishwoman Hannah O’Dowd.

Woodall, who had pleaded not guilty on Monday of dangerously operating a vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm, was sentenced on Thursday to a wholly suspended two-year jail term.

Leslie Ronald Woodall leaves the courthouse. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

He gave the media a wave and a thumbs up as he walked free from the court precinct.

The suspended sentence will hang over his head for an operational period of two years.

The jury heard throughout the three-day trial how Central Queensland pilot Woodall had piloted a light aircraft flying from Agnes Water to Middle Island on January 10, 2017 – as he had done so approximately 1000 times before – when the engine suddenly failed.

The plane wreckage.

Jocelyn Sara Spurway was killed and Irishwoman Hannah O’Dowd was seriously injured after the plane crashed onto a beach near Bustard Head.

The jury was told Ms Spurway received unsurvivable spinal injuries in the crash, while Ms O’Dowd was treated for spinal injuries, along with a complex fracture to her ankle, a subdural haematoma, and a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Woodall’s crucial piloting decisions in the 27 seconds post-engine failure were placed under the microscope by aviation experts throughout the trial.

The jury watched an eight-minute video on Monday filmed by a surviving passenger, which showed the plane veer suddenly towards the beach, with the horizon captured near a 45-degree tilt.

A squealing warning signal could be heard in the background before a crunching sound of collision and a man’s voice cursing “s**t”.

One person died and three were hospitalised after a light plane crashed at Bustard Head. Photo: RACQ LifeFlight Rescue

Crown prosecutor David Nardone told the jury in his opening submissions that Woodall had failed to follow his training to glide straight and maintain control of the aircraft.

He said Woodall had instead veered sharply to the left, triggering the plane to stall and crash.

Woodall’s defence team argued throughout the trial that Woodall had had limited options available to him in a highly stressful situation, and that he made the decision to turn towards the beach to avoid landing in the water.

After three hours of deliberations on Wednesday, the jury indicated they were unable to reach a unanimous decision.

But after a further half an hour of deliberations, they returned a unanimous guilty verdict – to the disappointed sighs of Woodall’s supporters in court.

Leslie Ronald Woodall was found guilty at trial of dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm over a 2017 plane crash. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Originally published as Pilot Leslie Ronald Woodall guilty of causing fatal Agnes Water crash