Light Plane Crash on Gold Coast Kills Two Near Woongoolba
A light plane crash on the northern Gold Coast has resulted in the deaths of two individuals, the pilot and a passenger, shortly before 6 AM near Woongoolba. Emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred at Heck Field and ignited a large grassfire across farmland. Investigations by multiple agencies are underway to determine the cause of the crash.
Incident Details
Police received reports of a light plane crash shortly before 6 AM near Heck Field, located off Stapylton Jacobs Well Road in Woongoolba, close to Jacobs Well on the northern outskirts of the Gold Coast. Initial reports from observers indicated black smoke in the area.
The two-seater aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from the privately-owned Jacobs Well Airstrip.
Upon impact, the plane burst into flames, which subsequently ignited a large grassfire across cane properties and surrounding farmland. The aircraft, identified as a single-engine experimental kit-built model, was first registered in 2006.
Casualties Identified
The pilot, 73-year-old Greg Ackman from Beenleigh, and a male passenger from Sydney, were the sole occupants of the aircraft and died at the scene.
Extensive Emergency Response
Emergency services, including police, paramedics, and at least four fire trucks, were dispatched to the crash site.
Access to the area proved challenging for crews due to tall grasses, its location surrounded by farmland and waterways, and the necessity to pass through a clay target club range.
The Queensland Fire Department responded to the ensuing scrub fire. Queensland Rural Fire Service Superintendent Robert Bloss reported that approximately 50 firefighters and 18 appliances were deployed to control the large grassfire. Air support and water bombers were requested, with containment anticipated within the day. Residents in the Jacobs Well area were advised to remain indoors and keep doors and windows closed due to heavy smoke. The grassfire has since been contained.
Multi-Agency Investigation Launched
Gold Coast Police District Superintendent Brett Jackson confirmed that the cause of the crash is currently unknown. An investigation is being conducted by police with assistance from aviation authorities, including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Investigators from Brisbane and Canberra have traveled to the site to assess the wreckage and determine the cause.
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that representatives would examine the aircraft components. The plane was largely destroyed by a post-impact fire and landed in a boggy area. The ATSB plans to map the site using drones and ground surveys. Investigators will also collect and analyze audio data, comparing engine sounds on take-off with previous recordings of the same engine.
The investigation will include reviewing the pilot's flight history, experience, and flight maintenance records, as well as interviewing witnesses. The specific requirements for experimental, kit-built aircraft will also be examined. A preliminary report from the ATSB is expected within eight weeks.
Aircraft's Previous Incident and Pilot's Background
It was confirmed that the same experimental kit-built aircraft was involved in a crash in 2010, attributed to engine failure, where it collided with a tree.
The pilot, Greg Ackman, was an active member of the Gold Coast Sports Flying Club and had an extensive history of flying various aircraft across Australia. Members of the aviation community, including Club President Rhys Owen and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association member Benjamin Morgan, acknowledged the loss. Mr. Ackman and his passenger had planned to travel to a small town north of Tamworth; this flight had been logged with aviation authorities, though its purpose remains undisclosed.