[Peetwo]

Two brothers, one aircraft, no more.

Tragic.

No platitudes, thoughts with family and friends.

- HERE -.

Via the Oz:


Brothers die in light aircraft crash



The pilot of a light plane that crashed in dense bushland on Sunday won a national award last year for his immaculate construction of the two-seater Wittman W10 Tailwind.

Robert Dull and brother Owen Dull, both aged in their 60s, were flying from Casino in northern NSW to Boonah in southern Queensland, when the single engine plane went down.

Bad weather might have played a part in the crash in the Koreelah National Park, not far from the aircraft’s last known position over Tooloom National Park.

The Australian Maritime Safety Agency initiated a search when the Tailwind failed to arrive at Boonah as expected, an hour after leaving Casino.

A Westpac rescue helicopter spotted the wreckage about 9.45am on Monday and ground crews were activated to access the aircraft in steep and heavily wooded terrain.

Using chainsaws and axes to slash through the thick bushland, police and State Emergency Service volunteers took several hours to reach the crash site, 1.5km from a walking trail.

Just before 3pm, the wreckage was located and the two men confirmed dead, dashing the hopes of relatives who took to social media to urge friends to pray for their survival and send positive thoughts.

Robert Dull, of Toowoomba, built the Wittman W10 Tailwind in 2018, and was last year awarded “best hybrid experimental amateur built aircraft” by the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia.

His passion for flying was shared by his brother Owen who previously built gyrocopters.

The men’s families on Monday requested privacy as they came to terms with their loss.

Police said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau would be responsible for any investigation into the crash.

A statement from the ATSB said investigators would travel to the site, and access permitting, examine the wreckage and site surrounds.

“The ATSB will also analyse available flight and other data and interview any witnesses,” said the statement.

The investigation was expected to take a year, with a final report to be delivered in the first quarter of 2021.

AO-2020-004

The ATSB is investigating the collision with terrain involving a Wittman Tailwind, VH-TWQ, at Tooloom National Park, New South Wales, on 12 January 2020.

Both occupants were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.

As part of the investigation, the ATSB will travel to the site, which is located in very steep and rugged terrain. Access permitting, the ATSB will examine the wreckage and site surrounds. The ATSB will also analyse available flight and other data, and interview any witnesses.

A report will be released at the end of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant stakeholders so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken.

 RIP - P2