Brumby 610 aircraft left William Creek airport and crashed on approach to Leigh Creek airport, police say

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A pilot and his passenger from Queensland have been killed in a light plane crash in northern South Australia.

Police have confirmed stud farmer Peter Gesler, 59, and his 48-year-old female passenger died after the plane crashed in scrubland near a small airport just before 6.30pm on Saturday.

Police said the man was from Greymare in the Southern Downs region and the woman was from the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum.

The Brumby 610 aircraft had left William Creek airport about 4pm and crashed on its approach to Leigh Creek airport, about 500km north of Adelaide.

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Investigators from Recreational Aviation Australia are expected to arrive at Leigh Creek about 9pm on Sunday.

The manager of the local caravan park, Peter Thompson, was at a campsite when he spotted a plane in the sky shortly before the crash.

“We saw a green light, assuming it was the wing of a plane, to the north of Leigh Creek,” he told the ABC.

“It turned and headed back towards Leigh Creek. Then it turned again to head to the airport.”

Recreational Aviation Australia’s chief executive, Michael Linke, said: “As you would appreciate, given the remoteness of the location this will take some time.

“At this stage we have no specifics regarding the aircraft, pilot, passenger or purpose of the flight or cause of the accident.”