Search on for missing plane - Brisbane

[David Knudsen]

From www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Search on for missing plane
Georgina Robinson | September 15, 2008 - 7:02AM

An aerial search has been launched for a single-engine aircraft with three people on board that failed to arrive in Brisbane on a flight from Sydney yesterday.

A worried relative contacted Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) about 6.30pm last night when the Cessna 206 did not land in Archerfield, in Brisbane's south.

The plane, with a pilot and two passengers on board, had taken off from Bankstown yesterday morning and was due to land at Archerfield about lunchtime yesterday, an AusSAR spokeswoman said.

Its last known location was Scone, south of Tamworth, where the aircraft stopped to refuel mid-morning. No contact has been made since.

AusSAR has sent a helicopter and fixed wing aircraft up this morning to search between Scone and Archerfield, a spokeswoman said. Authorities hoped to send at least four more aircraft up later today, she said.

Anyone who may have seen or heard the light aircraft should contact AusSAR on 1800 815 257.

[Mick F]

Quite sad to see such a string of accidents lately. It doesn't do good things for GA at all.

On a slightly different matter, does anyone in the Brisbane Area know of any crashes/boating accidents that occurred on Saturday afternoon? While leaving the Brisbane basin I reported hearing an EPIRB on 121.50, but obviously never heard anything further.

Cheers

Mick

[Nigel C]

Another report located here http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24346666-29277,00.html

Interestingly, it mentions that there was no flight plan filed for the trip, and that it was only because worried relatives contaced authorities that a search was started. If this is the case, then they haven't helped themselves if they are still alive but injured.

Nobody plans to have an accident...

[Troy R.]

Rescue 431 is just leaving Tamworth to head to Casino via Walcha.
No idea of the type, but that is not a callsign that is usually up this way.

[Nigel C]

From www.news.com.au

This isn't looking very promising...:(

Searchers spot possible plane wreckage
By Steve Gee
September 15, 2008 11:48am

Wreckage spotted by searchers looking for plane

Plane with three onboard was flying interestate
Queensland pilot, wife and child were fliers


AUTHORITIES have found wreckage that could be a light aircraft that went missing on a flight from New South Wales to Brisbane with three people on board.

A search helicopter sighted wreckage that could be a light plane around noon (AEST) today at Hanging Rock, about 85km southeast of Tamworth, in northern NSW.

"One of the search's helicopters has sighted wreckage that appears to be aircraft from the air and that helicopter is currently investigating whether this wreckage is an aircraft and whether or not it is the aircraft in question,'' Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokesman Michael Spinks said.

The man flying the plane is a pilot from Queensland, who was travelling with his wife and young child, The Daily Telegraph has reported.

The aircraft departed Bankstown Aiport in Sydney's west early yesterday before stopping to refuel at Scone, in the Hunter Valley.

The aircraft landed at Scone about 9am before taking off without incident 30 minutes later.

Scone Aero Club president Neville Partridge, whose property backs onto the airport, said the plane was the only aircraft to use the aerodrome in horrendous weather.

"No one else was out there yesterday," Mr Partridge said.

"I don't know why you would want to fly on a day like that."

Mr Partridge, who saw the aircraft land and take-off, said it was on the ground for about 30 minutes.

It was due to land at Casino on the NSW north coast before arriving in Brisbane about midday, but there has been no sign of the plane or contact with the pilot.

The aircraft was heading into a storm cell when it disappeared.

[Troy R.]

That's pretty rugged country out there. Considering how bad the weather was here in Tamworth yesterday, it would have been appalling out in the mountains.

If it is the missing aircraft, at least they have been found. There would be nothing worse than never knowing what happened.

[Daniel M]

aircraft in question

http://www.donhodgegroup.com.au/VH%20-%20JDQ%20Cessna%20U206.htm

[Greg McDonald]

3 deceased unfortunately..

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24347357-2,00.html

[Tony G]

Just heard the details on the news. Was a young family. A 30yo with wife and 7yo son. They say he might have only had his PPL for 4 months. It was bad weather to fly in. WE had very strongs winds and storms on flight line at Richmond, it was the first time i had seen rain flow horizontally and it continued up the coast.

R.I.P

[Mick F]

And not to mention he'd only just picked the plane up after purchasing it.

Mick

[Matt N.]

I think this aircraft may have flown over my place yesterday morning (just nw of Hornsby railway sheds). I was out the back probably around 8am or thereabouts I didnt really pay much attention to the time when I could hear a light aircraft coming so looked up and it zipped overhead verrrrry low due to the cloud base and it was tracking along quite quickly towards roughly the north. I remember thinking at the time I wasnt sure what type it was other than a Cessna, and that it was absolutely terrible weather to be out in a light plane. I could be mistaken though.