Gladstone Man Dies in Ultra-Light Plane Crash near Bundaberg

A Gladstone man has died after the single engine ultralight aircraft he was learning to fly crashed on Monday 19 March. He was one of two people on board the Piper Light Sport ultralight that were killed when the aircraft smashed nose-first into a North Bundaberg cane field on Monday afternoon. The trainee pilot - who had done about six or seven lessons - is believed to be married with children.


The AGL Action Rescue Helicopter located the plane which failed to return to Bundaberg airport Monday afternoon. The ultralight departed Bundaberg airport on Monday afternoon and was due back at Bundaberg airport around 3:30pm but failed to return.


The cause of the crash is a mystery, with no witnesses or radio calls from the pilots. The plane appears to have landed on its nose and left wing, with the right wing and tail almost unscathed. Recreational Aviation Australia would investigate the incident along with police. Scenes of Crime Police and the Wide Bay Forensics Crash Unit are investigating.