Small plane crash in eastern Australia kills 4, 2 survive

Small plane crash in eastern Australia kills 4, 2 survive

2011-03-31 15:16:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

SYDNEY (BNO NEWS) -- Four people were killed on Wednesday evening when a small plane crashed near an airport in eastern Australia, police said on Thursday. Two others, including a teenager, survived.

A New South Wales police spokesperson said the accident happened shortly after 8 p.m. local time when a single-engine Piper aircraft crashed in a paddock near Moree Airport. A total of six people were on board, including a 12-year-old girl.

The flight, which originated from the small town of Brewarrina, was on its final approach to Moree when it went down, 900 meters (0.5 mile) north of the airport. "Police from Barwon Local Area Command, NSW Ambulance Paramedics, Fire and Rescue NSW personnel and NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers responded to the incident," police said.

Emergency services found the bodies of a 77-year-old man, his 77-year-old wife and a woman believed to be aged 47. The body of the male pilot, aged 63, was also located. He has been formally identified but police have not yet released his name

Two survivors, a 42-year-old man and his 12-year-old daughter, were taken by ambulance to Moree Hospital in a critical condition. The man was later transfered to Tamworth Hospital while the girl was airlifted to Brisbane's Mater Hospital.

Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are due to arrive at the crash site on Thursday evening and will assume control of the investigation into the cause of the crash.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-31