Two pilots have died in an aircraft collision south of Gympie.
It’s believed a light plane and glider collided mid-air at Kybong around 2.45 yesterday afternoon, before crashing into a paddock near Glory Hill Road.
Police have now confirmed two men were killed in the crash, a 77-year-old from Glenwood and an 80-year-old from Caboolture.
They were both the pilots and sole occupants of each of the aircraft.
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Inspector Brad Inskip says the debris was scattered across hundreds of metres.
“We’ve got two scenes in a paddock nearby, they are approximately 200 metres apart and spread across a bit of a distance, so the investigation will involve mapping those scenes, examining the aircraft… and obviously witnesses statements and interviews.”
Inspector Inskip says the glider left from a local club, and it’s bound to affect the tight-knit community.
“The gliding club’s obviously very close; it’s a small, little, regional gliding club, they all know each other, so this is going to hit the community very hard”
Inspector Inskip is asking anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.
“We’ve spoken to a few people who were in the area, but we’d like to urge anyone who was in the area, that happened to see anything, that would like to come forward – we’d appreciate their assistance.”
“This is a tragic incident and quite a graphic scene left there for all the emergency service and those who have responded and for the witnesses.
“There are no winners, it’s a terrible scene, terrible incident, terrible for the families and obviously those involved.”
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
