Latest news with #ReimsCessnaF406
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- General
- Sky News AU
Queensland flight examiner's last words to wife just hours before fatal plane crash claimed his life revealed
The longtime wife of a man who died following a tragic plane crash over the weekend has revealed the last words he spoke to her just hours before take-off. Flight examiner and war veteran Robert 'Bob' Molony was one of two men onboard an Aero Logistics aircraft which crashed west of Toowoomba, Queensland on Sunday afternoon. Emergency responders rushed to scene at Devon Park near Oakley at about 3.10pm following reports of a crash, with police saying in a statement the two male occupants of the aircraft were declared dead at the scene. Pilot Wayne Saunders has been identified as the other man onboard the 35-year-old French made twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406 that took off from Warwick Airport. The Courier Mail reports Stephanie Molony, who had been married to Mr Molony for nearly three decades, has said her husband will leave a legacy of having been 'one of the most experienced pilots around'. 'I'm so proud of him and the person he was for the industry, that they've now got people like him to aspire to be,' she said. Ms Molony also revealed she and the 78-year-old had shopped for fruit trees at a Bunnings on Sunday morning before her husband's flight that afternoon. She said the flight examiner had yelled to her 'I'll be home at 4pm to plant those trees' as he walked out the door. 'There was nothing extra about it, just as simple as that,' she said. 'It got to 4.30pm and I tried ringing his mobile and it went to message bank. Ms Molony drove to the airport the plane had departed from and discovered her husband's parked car, before police then arrived to deliver the news, according to the masthead. It comes after the chief executive of Aero Logistics – an Archerfield-based aircraft charter and rental service – described Sunday's incident as 'tragedy'. 'This is a terrible tragedy for the two people on-board the aircraft and their families, friends and workmates,' chief executive Ben Smee said on Monday. 'This is a devastating loss for everyone who knew them. 'We have offered our support and assistance to their families as they come to terms with the situation. We have also made counselling services available for our staff.' An investigation into determining the cause of the crash could take up to six weeks, according to the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB). Mr Molony, originally from Brisbane, was a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot who was deployed to South Vietnam as a Canberra bomber navigator, having amassed more than 14,000 flight hours over his career. The ATSB has said its investigation involves a team of investigators from Brisbane and Cairns. 'Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra,' a statement said. 'Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information."
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- General
- Sky News AU
Flight examiner involved in fatal Oakey plane crash was a war veteran with more than 14,000 flight hours
The two men who tragically died in a plane crash in Queensland over the weekend have been identified as an investigation is launched into the cause of the incident. The aircraft, which belonged to Aero Logistics, an Archerfield, Queensland, based aircraft charter and rental service, was a 35-year-old French made twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406. About 3.10pm on Sunday, regional emergency responders were called to Devon Park near Oakey, west of Toowoomba, after reports of a plane crash. In a statement, police said the two male occupants of the aircraft were declared dead at the scene. Aero Logistics chief executive Ben Smee revealed on Monday the deceased was a pilot and an external flight examiner. Robert 'Bob' Molony and Wayne Saunders were the pilot and flight examiner who took to the sky on Sunday from Warwick Airport. 'This is a terrible tragedy for the two people on-board the aircraft and their families, friends and workmates,' he said. 'This is a devastating loss for everyone who knew them. 'We have offered our support and assistance to their families as they come to terms with the situation. We have also made counselling services available for our staff.' According to the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau, an investigation could take up to six weeks to determine the cause of the crash. Mr Molony only had partial radio contact before the aircraft crashed into a cow paddock, reported The Courier Mail. The pilot, born in Brisbane, joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1965 and was deployed to South Vietnam as a Canberra bomber navigator, and amassed more than 14,000 flight hours over his career. He left the Air Force in 1985 and became a CASA certified flight examiner and worked in Australia and Papua New Guinea with operations worldwide. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the investigation had begun with a team of investigators from Brisbane and Cairns conducting the probe. 'Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra,' the statement said. 'Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information."
Perth Now
20-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Two killed in horror plane crash
Two men have been killed after a light plane crashed into a paddock before catching on fire in Queensland's Toowoomba region. Early investigations indicate the aircraft crashed near Oakey Cooyar Rd at Devon Park, about two hours from Brisbane, shortly after 3pm on Sunday. A Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said four crews rushed to the scene just before 3.20pm and extinguished a blaze from the plane, which had caught fire. Queensland Police said the two male occupants were declared deceased at the scene and that Forensic Crash Unit were investigating the circumstances around the incident. Two people have been killed after light plane crashes at Devon Park, near Toowoomba. 7News Credit: Supplied They will assist investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau who confirmed on Sunday afternoon they would investigating the crash. The ATSB identified the aircraft as a twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406, and that officers were being deployed from Brisbane and Canberra. The investigators, who specialise in aircraft operations and maintenance, will conduct a range of 'evidence-gathering activities', including site and wreckage examination. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the crash with support from police. 7News Credit: Supplied 'Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data,' the ATSB said in a statement. 'As well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.' Anyone with footage of the aircraft at 'any phase of the flight' or following the crash were urged to contact the ATSB. A report will also be prepared for the information of the coroner.
