Capt Claret
9th Apr 2008, 01:30
Mrs C, getting her NT fix, brought the following NT News story to my attention.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2008/04/08/plane_flip.jpg
Plane flips on soggy sea landing
REBEKAH CAVANAGH
09Apr08
A SEA-PLANE crashed into the ocean yesterday when it flipped on landing at a popular Territory fishing spot.
Onlookers feared the worst as they watched the plane overturn and land upside down in the water. But the shaken pilot soon resurfaced to say he was "OK''.
Police said the plane arrived safely on the Crab Claw Island airstrip in Bynoe Harbour, about 130km southwest of Darwin, the night before. But when the pilot went to move it into the water to collect passengers on the waterfront yesterday morning he struck trouble and crashed.
The Northern Territory News understands he failed to pull up the tyres for a water landing.
Crab Claw Island Fishermen's Village owner Bill Briscoe said the pilot was lucky.
"We had boats here and they all shot right out and got the pilot off and checked him out,'' he said.
"He had a bit of a mark across the nose that's basically about it.''
The sea-plane, valued at more than $1million, was last night still stuck belly up in the water.
At low tide in the afternoon the plane emerged from the water as it sat on a sandbar.
Police from Palmerston travelled to the scene to investigate further. Insurance assessors also visited the scene yesterday.
Or, click here (http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/09/3819_ntnews.html) for the original article.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2008/04/08/plane_flip.jpg
Plane flips on soggy sea landing
REBEKAH CAVANAGH
09Apr08
A SEA-PLANE crashed into the ocean yesterday when it flipped on landing at a popular Territory fishing spot.
Onlookers feared the worst as they watched the plane overturn and land upside down in the water. But the shaken pilot soon resurfaced to say he was "OK''.
Police said the plane arrived safely on the Crab Claw Island airstrip in Bynoe Harbour, about 130km southwest of Darwin, the night before. But when the pilot went to move it into the water to collect passengers on the waterfront yesterday morning he struck trouble and crashed.
The Northern Territory News understands he failed to pull up the tyres for a water landing.
Crab Claw Island Fishermen's Village owner Bill Briscoe said the pilot was lucky.
"We had boats here and they all shot right out and got the pilot off and checked him out,'' he said.
"He had a bit of a mark across the nose that's basically about it.''
The sea-plane, valued at more than $1million, was last night still stuck belly up in the water.
At low tide in the afternoon the plane emerged from the water as it sat on a sandbar.
Police from Palmerston travelled to the scene to investigate further. Insurance assessors also visited the scene yesterday.
Or, click here (http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/09/3819_ntnews.html) for the original article.