Pilot in fatal crash 'had brain injury'
THE pilot of a plane which crashed in the ocean off the Gold Coast in 2008 had a history of seizure-like symptoms, a coronial hearing was told today.
Barry Ian Hempel flew a Yak-52 Warbird that crashed near South Stradbroke Island in August 2008, killing him and passenger Ian Ross Lovell.
The court was told Mr Hempel suffered a "severe brain injury" in 2001 and in 2002 was taken to hospital by ambulance on two occasions suffering symptoms which could have been seizures.
In 2005 neurologist Dr Ian Maxwell cleared Mr Hempel to fly, but he said he was unaware of his history.
"If I had that ambulance report I would have cancelled his licence immediately," he said.