Caboolture airfield crash: Pilot David Maddern and wife Jan identified as victims after tragic aircraft collision
- A husband and wife died in a plane crash
- Their aircraft collided with another in mid-air
- The other pilot escaped uninjured
A couple in their 60s have been identified as the pilot and passenger who died after a tragic plane collision caused their aircraft to crash land.
Career pilot David Maddern and his wife Jan were flying in his Jabiru J430 above Caboolture Airfield, north of Brisbane, on Friday when they hit another plane.
The two light aircraft collided as the Jabiru J430 was taking off from the aerodrome, which came into contact with a Piper Pawnee which was landing at 10:30am.
Mr and Ms Madden died at the scene while the pilot of the Piper Pawnee escaped uninjured.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is now investigating the accident.
Career pilot David Maddern (pictured) and his wife Jan have been identified as the pilot and passenger who died after a tragic plane collision caused their aircraft to crash land
The two light aircraft collided as Mr Maddern’s Jabiru J430 was taking off from the aerodrome, which came into contact with a Piper Pawnee which was landing at 10:30am
ATSB investigators from Brisbane were on the scene by Friday afternoon and will soon be accompanied by additional members from their Canberra office today.
‘It was reported that the collision occurred shortly after 10.30am local time, when a Jabiru J430 was taking off from one runway while a Piper Pawnee was landing on a crossing runway,’ the ATSB said.
‘Tragically, both occupants of the Jabiru were fatally injured. The Pawnee pilot was uninjured.’
The pilot of the Piper Pawnee is working with investigators in order to determine how the planes came into contact with each other and who is to blame.
This investigation is still ‘at its infancy’ however, according to Acting Assistant District Officer for the Moreton District Paul Ready.
Investigators are asking for anyone who may have seen the crash to come forward and provide their accounts, and to submit any video they may have of when it occurred.
These accounts and any footage will help investigators, who are meticulously mapping out the flight paths of the planes, examining the wreckage, and gathering flight tracking data.
The Caboolture Airport will remain closed, while these investigations take place.
The incident happened above Caboolture Airfield, north of Brisbane, on Friday
Several media helicopters flying over the scene Friday showed emergency services swarming around the wreckage
Several media helicopters flying over the scene Friday showed emergency services swarming around the wreckage.
Queensland Ambulance confirmed that five ambulances were sent to respond to the ‘significant incident’.
A final report on the crash which will detail what went wrong, including any contributing factors and identified safety issues, will take six to eight weeks to complete.
