Aviation Icon Col Pay Lost in Crash (Merged)
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Aviation Icon Col Pay Lost in Crash (Merged)
From the ABC:
Plane plunges into lake, 1 missing
Posted December 7, 2007 10:07:00
One person is missing after a light plane crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
The Ambulance Service says the plane crashed into Lake Liddel, 25 kilometres north of Singleton, just after 9:00am (AEDT).
It is not known if there were any other people on board.
Posted December 7, 2007 10:07:00
One person is missing after a light plane crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.
The Ambulance Service says the plane crashed into Lake Liddel, 25 kilometres north of Singleton, just after 9:00am (AEDT).
It is not known if there were any other people on board.
SMH has this:
SMH One missing in plane crash
Dylan Welch
December 7, 2007 - 10:33AM
Two men escaped unhurt but one man is missing after a plane crashed into a lake near Muswellbrook today.
The yellow plane had been skimming the water at Lake Liddel near the New England Highway about 9.15am when it crashed into the lake, an Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.
"Two people have now got out of the plane uninjured and there's a third person that is missing,'' she said.
Dylan Welch
December 7, 2007 - 10:33AM
Two men escaped unhurt but one man is missing after a plane crashed into a lake near Muswellbrook today.
The yellow plane had been skimming the water at Lake Liddel near the New England Highway about 9.15am when it crashed into the lake, an Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.
"Two people have now got out of the plane uninjured and there's a third person that is missing,'' she said.
Silly Old Git
Vale Colin Pay
Reading the SMH report I think that Harley and Neville have effectively let the cat out of the bag and confirmed it:
Col died in the accident this morning. The two people seen swimming at the wreckage were two of Pay's engineers, observing the trials from a boat.
Pay was alone in the aircraft, VH-LIS.
I am only one of the many many pilots who owe their career to Pay. Like all at Scone and many further afield, lost for words.
Col died in the accident this morning. The two people seen swimming at the wreckage were two of Pay's engineers, observing the trials from a boat.
Pay was alone in the aircraft, VH-LIS.
I am only one of the many many pilots who owe their career to Pay. Like all at Scone and many further afield, lost for words.
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Police divers are searching Lake Liddell in the Hunter Valley, for a man missing after a light plane crash.
The missing man is believed to be the pilot, who's aged in his 70s.
Penelope Little, from the Ambulance Service, says the aircraft came during an aerial photography mission.
“Two males have been able to get out of the plane,” she said.
“They got to shore and are currently with ambulance officers and a third male is still unaccounted for.”
The missing man is believed to be the pilot, who's aged in his 70s.
Penelope Little, from the Ambulance Service, says the aircraft came during an aerial photography mission.
“Two males have been able to get out of the plane,” she said.
“They got to shore and are currently with ambulance officers and a third male is still unaccounted for.”
Penelope (?) should have checked her facts before saying anything to anyone. How could they have gotten this so wrong?
The press are all in such a hurry to get the scoop - they just print what they are told without checking it out. Disgracefull.
Condolences to Col's family and the multitude of friends.
Di
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Plane crashes during film shoot (Australia)
A PLANE crashed into a lake in the NSW Hunter region this morning as it was being filmed for promotional purposes.
An Australian Search and Rescue (ASAR) spokeswoman told NEWS.com.au only one person was believed to be on-board the converted fire-bomber when it crashed into Lake Liddell, northwest of Singleton, around 9.30am (AEDT).
Earlier reports said two people were on-board and one had survived.
The ASAR spokeswoman said the male pilot is believed to have been killed and is still inside the aircraft, which is stuck in mud about 10m below the lake's surface.
"NSW Police are sending a dive team from Sydney," the spokewoman said.
"(The plane is) inverted in mud."
The spokeswoman said it was believed people aboard a boat on the lake had been shooting a promotional film when the plane crashed.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified of the crash and is expceted to begin an investigation later today
An Australian Search and Rescue (ASAR) spokeswoman told NEWS.com.au only one person was believed to be on-board the converted fire-bomber when it crashed into Lake Liddell, northwest of Singleton, around 9.30am (AEDT).
Earlier reports said two people were on-board and one had survived.
The ASAR spokeswoman said the male pilot is believed to have been killed and is still inside the aircraft, which is stuck in mud about 10m below the lake's surface.
"NSW Police are sending a dive team from Sydney," the spokewoman said.
"(The plane is) inverted in mud."
The spokeswoman said it was believed people aboard a boat on the lake had been shooting a promotional film when the plane crashed.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified of the crash and is expceted to begin an investigation later today
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Col Pay Feared Dead
From News.com
AN agricultural pilot with more than 50 years' experience is feared dead after a light aircraft crashed into a lake in the NSW Hunter region.
Police said a man in his 70s was missing after the plane went down at Lake Liddell, northwest of Singleton, at 9.40am (AEDT) today. The plane was believed to have crashed while being filmed for promotional reasons.
Scone Aero Club president Neville Partridge said the pilot of the plane was Col Pay, a water bomber pilot and crop-duster from Scone.
He had more than half a century of flying experience, Mr Partridge said.
"Without doubt, he was one of the most experienced pilots," he said.
"He was flying an agricultural-type plane when it happened."
Police divers search the lake today.
There was initial confusion over how many people were on board the plane when it crashed, with ambulance services saying earlier that two passengers had swum ashore.
But a spokeswoman for Pay's Air Service later said Mr Pay was the only person in the plane.
She was unable to say what work Mr Pay was carrying out at the time.
An Air Services Australia (ASA) spokeswoman said the plane, a fire-bomber Air Tractor model AT 8T usually used for water bombing, was licensed to carry two people.
Pay's Air Service carries out fire-spotting and bushfire water-bombing out of Scone and Moree, according to the company website.
Chief executive of the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia, Phil Hurst, said he understood the aircraft involved in the crash was a two-seater, but he was unsure how many people were aboard.
Lets hope he is OK. One hell of a legend in Australia
AN agricultural pilot with more than 50 years' experience is feared dead after a light aircraft crashed into a lake in the NSW Hunter region.
Police said a man in his 70s was missing after the plane went down at Lake Liddell, northwest of Singleton, at 9.40am (AEDT) today. The plane was believed to have crashed while being filmed for promotional reasons.
Scone Aero Club president Neville Partridge said the pilot of the plane was Col Pay, a water bomber pilot and crop-duster from Scone.
He had more than half a century of flying experience, Mr Partridge said.
"Without doubt, he was one of the most experienced pilots," he said.
"He was flying an agricultural-type plane when it happened."
Police divers search the lake today.
There was initial confusion over how many people were on board the plane when it crashed, with ambulance services saying earlier that two passengers had swum ashore.
But a spokeswoman for Pay's Air Service later said Mr Pay was the only person in the plane.
She was unable to say what work Mr Pay was carrying out at the time.
An Air Services Australia (ASA) spokeswoman said the plane, a fire-bomber Air Tractor model AT 8T usually used for water bombing, was licensed to carry two people.
Pay's Air Service carries out fire-spotting and bushfire water-bombing out of Scone and Moree, according to the company website.
Chief executive of the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia, Phil Hurst, said he understood the aircraft involved in the crash was a two-seater, but he was unsure how many people were aboard.
Lets hope he is OK. One hell of a legend in Australia
From ABC...
I wasn't aware that an air tractor could fill tanks like that in flight...
"It was an aircraft practicing picking up water ... it was a firefighting aircraft," Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said. "It's touched the surface of the lake, flipped over and sank."
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Very very sad news if true. If it is a consolation, he was doing what he loved most in the world.
I first met Col doing what most pilots do at the end of a long day, two blokes in an empty hotel bar having a quiet one before dinner. I had heard all of the legends but was unprepared for this very self effacing and humble guy, no big watch and big ego, just crisp casual shirt, moleys and boots. In fact we had been idle chit chatting for some time before I made the connection. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. He gave a lot of people in aviation a huge amount of pleasure.
I first met Col doing what most pilots do at the end of a long day, two blokes in an empty hotel bar having a quiet one before dinner. I had heard all of the legends but was unprepared for this very self effacing and humble guy, no big watch and big ego, just crisp casual shirt, moleys and boots. In fact we had been idle chit chatting for some time before I made the connection. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. He gave a lot of people in aviation a huge amount of pleasure.
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From the ABC: Story and file pics.
My sincere condolences to all affected by the loss of Col Pay, a legend in his own time.
RIP,
ABX
Police divers are trying to recover the body of a 75-year-old pilot who died when his light plane smashed into a lake in the New South Wales Upper Hunter Valley this morning.
The Air Tractor 802 aircraft was performing a water-skimming exercise over Lake Liddell, near Muswellbrook, when it hit the water and crashed at about 9:15am AEDT.
The aircraft was seen skimming across the water before it went down and disappeared into the lake about 100 metres from the shoreline.
The pilot, who is believed to be well-known in the Hunter Valley aviation community, was unable to escape the plane.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the plane was practicing scooping up water as part of practice drills ahead of the bushfire season.
Penelope Little from the Ambulance Service says paramedics tried to reach the man who was still in the plane, but were unsuccessful due to the depth of the water.
The wreckage came to rest 10 metres down.
It is unclear whether the pilot was working for the New South Wales Fire Brigade or the Rural Fire Service.
"It was an aircraft practicing picking up water ... it was a firefighting aircraft," Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said. "It's touched the surface of the lake, flipped over and sank."
The Air Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.
The Air Tractor 802 aircraft was performing a water-skimming exercise over Lake Liddell, near Muswellbrook, when it hit the water and crashed at about 9:15am AEDT.
The aircraft was seen skimming across the water before it went down and disappeared into the lake about 100 metres from the shoreline.
The pilot, who is believed to be well-known in the Hunter Valley aviation community, was unable to escape the plane.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the plane was practicing scooping up water as part of practice drills ahead of the bushfire season.
Penelope Little from the Ambulance Service says paramedics tried to reach the man who was still in the plane, but were unsuccessful due to the depth of the water.
The wreckage came to rest 10 metres down.
It is unclear whether the pilot was working for the New South Wales Fire Brigade or the Rural Fire Service.
"It was an aircraft practicing picking up water ... it was a firefighting aircraft," Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said. "It's touched the surface of the lake, flipped over and sank."
The Air Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.
RIP,
ABX
Last edited by ABX; 7th Dec 2007 at 02:27.
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Condolences to the family and friends of a legend of Australian aviation. I only met him a couple of times but he was a gent and as Gaunty said a very humble man. A sad day indeed, just doesn't sound true....
RIP
RIP
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Sad news
Colin Pay was a great aviator who often achieved what was considered impossible. Looks like he was still doing it.
I believe he was the man who re-engined the Fletcher agplane with the 400 hp Lycoming.
An inovator to his last day, at age 75.
I respect this man, and am saddened by his passing.
I believe he was the man who re-engined the Fletcher agplane with the 400 hp Lycoming.
An inovator to his last day, at age 75.
I respect this man, and am saddened by his passing.
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I was lucky enough to meet Col just a few months ago at Scone. Although busy, he still took the time for a yarn with a bloke that just wandered into his hangar and showed me around the rest of his aircraft in another. As others have said, a gentleman. The industry is all the poorer for his passing. Sincere condolences to Col's family.
Vale, Col, RIP
Vale, Col, RIP