"He [the pilot] would fly regularly when the weather was suitable and was a very experinced pilot."
Whitsunday Police Station officer in charge senior sergeant Steve O'Connell said the plane was full of fuel and was thankful that it didn't catch fire.
Note that "experienced" doesn't mean "safe", or "legally compliant"
Three people (two-place limit for RAA aircraft, and the
Bingo 45 only has two seats) and full of fuel (450kg MTOW, 250-270kg Basic wt, 72 litres (50 kg) fuel capacity)? No wonder it didn't get airborne!
With an RAA 19-xxxx registration:
...maximum two places. The aircraft need not be designed to an approved standard, or constructed from certified type materials, and can be of any origin...
... There is no requirement that the aircraft be built under supervision. A pre-cover/pre-closure inspection is highly recommended, and there must be a pre-flight final inspection, observed by RA-Aus/CASA authorised inspectors, but that final inspection does not determine airworthiness — the owner/builder must accept entire responsibility for that...
...the aircraft must carry a cockpit placard warning that the aircraft is not required to comply with the safety regulations for standard aircraft and persons (passengers) fly in it at their own risk.