B58 Lost short of McArthur River Mine
 

Just heard on ABC radio.

A Hardy's B58 crashed short of McArthur River Mine strip in the Gulf country.

2 on board.

No details yet but I hope the dire report was media hype.

I know those guys and it worries me.

From the Australian...
 

Plane crashes in NT

January 19, 2006
A LIGHT aircraft has crashed near Borroloola in the Northern Territory.

A police spokeswoman said it was unclear how many people were aboard the aircraft and if there were any survivors.

The twin-engine Beechcraft Baron B58 had been due at the McArthur River Mine airstrip at 9.30am (CST) today, and workers alerted police when it did not arrive.

An air search later found the wreckage of the plane about 9km south-east of the mine, the police spokeswoman said.







Hopefully all are okay.

Not good news at all from I hear so far.....I know the pilot very well too.... Apparently the aircraft was found upside down in the scrub not far from the runway

Am still hoping they're OK !!

Austin

Not good. :ugh:
Sorry to hear.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...1/s1551284.htm

Very Tragic. Dale was a great bloke that will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family and our mates at Hardys.


http://ntnews.news.com.au/common/sto...E13569,00.html

Awful, awful news. :{ :{ :{ :{ :{ :{

RIP mate; and thoughts are with the hardys team. :uhoh: :{

Can anyone confirm pilot - just initials will suffice.

I have a mate at Hardy's on the Baron and have been trying to contact him but his phone is switched off. Am worried.

Initials would be a great help please!
 

I concur with soul, just the initials please......or PM

Condolences to all involved,

Lived in Borroloola for more time than i want to remember and know the area pretty well. Sad news indeed.

Pilots Initials .....DF. Great guy.

Weather been pretty ordinary.
B58 got plenty range would ISA be an alternate..or Tennant?

Condolences to all affected families

A very sad day for all
 

Thanx Centurion, many many people will have flown with DF, a great guy and a meticulous pilot.

Condolences to all at HA as well as immediate family.

R.I.P. my friend

Condolences
 

Like many others will attest, great instructor...even better bloke.

Only flew with Dale a few times during my short stay in Darwin and was impresssed by his standards and knowledge.

My thoughts are with his family at this dark time.

R.I.P mate.

DF…One of the finest definitions of “professional” I have come across in aviation. He was an excellent instructor, extraordinary with people and devoted family man. Not only have Darwin and the industry as a whole lost a great pilot, but a great man who would have been an inspiration and role model for the futures young.

God bless the skies you fly now friend, and our thoughts for your family.

Still bewildered, JP.

Oh D . Why did you have to go away old mate?

Bloody keen and comitted - making ends meet - trying to make a go of it with a young family.

Put up with me in that bloody sim. Never once lost your patience.

It's bloody tragic - such a nice fella - nothing was a problem ever.

We've lost a true gentleman of the industry gents.:uhoh: :(

Did not know the chap, but never a good look for anyone.

Can someone close to the family start a "donation" account please - count me in.
Not a good situation for a young family to be in. Was he a member iof the AFAP?

How to help ???
 

Good thinking Ali...
I wonder if we could contribute to a fund est by HA or DFS? May be a way of approaching this, I'm sure R. and the kids would appreciate the support.
Still numb....
Every other year this seems to happen to either a former flying colleague or an acquaintance....what's going on ???

This is a sad day for everyone in the industry. A top bloke and a great pilot. RIP

Disbelief
 

I still cannot believe this has happened.
It scares me to think that if something like this can happen to someone of Dale's league, what is in store for those of us below him?

Well, you're above us all now mate, even more so than before, so fly high mate. It was nothing less than an honour to have met you.

Deepest condolences to the team at Hardy's, DFS and the family.


520. :(

In GA as a whole this seems to be happening every other week. What's going on is a valid question.

be58 nt
 

yes.extremely horrible news re dale and my heart sincerly goes out to his immediate family - young kids...awful. a money fund great idea. established by the person with the generous idea not an aviation company...but that is only my opinion. also wondering the implications for HA. condolences to all his family and friends and flying associates.

A PPRune fund??
 

I worked with Dale in his flying school days for over 3 years....and, quite honestly, feel somewhere between numbness and disbelief as a result of this....am still trying to get the courage up to ring 'that phone number'...

Great idea Def; I'm good for $100 to begin.

The NT NEWS??
 

...and in 'typical' style they get the surname incorrect.....makes you wonder!!:confused: :confused:

Can anyone pls confirm if he is Dale which worked at old DFS flying school around ´03? Im very saddened to hear about this accident.

MRC

MRC.
Yes.

My initial worst feeling, when I heard the report, confirmed.
A mate that will be sorely missed.:{ :{ :{ :{ :(

RIP mate. I don't really know what to say. The disbelief has silenced me.

A gentleman above all other gentlemen, a professional above all other professionals.

I was honoured and will never forget the last flight we did together. I just wish it could have been under different circumstances. :{

A terrible injustice. Thoughts and prayers with R and family.

Note: If anyone has already made arrangements for a fund please PM me or i will start making the neccessary arrangements


The Pistol Family

Can someone please PM me with the details once the fund has been established.

Can not think of a more worthy cause!!!

I emailed the pprune thread address and news paper article to Mrs. Hat to give her an idea of why this was such a big shock for me and why I was so very upset when i discovered what had happened.

I hadn't talked to Dale in a long while. I moved away from the NT - got busy chasing the dream - fairly regretting it now.

I thought i'd share her reply as it might benefit some others that are reading-

Look at all the wonderful things said about him. It is sad he is no longer gracing this earth with his presence but his soul will live on in all those whose lives he touched. What advice do you think he would give you if he could speak to you now? I would hope he would say that he wouldn't change a thing. He died doing what he loved and he made his choices in life for the people he loved. Hold on tight to your dreams, and never let go.

Will miss you old son.

Does any one know if there are plans for either a funeral or a memorial service in the Darwin area?

I have not had the pleasure of meeting Dale, but from all the above posts I wish I had. My sincere condolances to his family and to the engineers. With one more baby on the way and two kids left behind I to feel I wish to join the aviation community and show support to his family. Can someone PM if they know of a way, if not I will contact Hardy. To all at Hardy's, I feel your sorrow.

inbound details.
Yes, I believe there is going to be a service in Darwin. Not sure yet of the details. Will let you know.

Re funeral service
 

I understand that a funeral is likely to be held on Friday but this depends on the usual formalities being completed.

Watch the appropriate NT News column for details.

Franke Family Fund details
 

OK everyone, the Franke Family fund has been established. For anyone who would like to make a contribution, no donation is too small.

As good friends of the family and having a young family myself, i thought the ideas of a fund were a great idea. With no reply that one had been already been started, the following arrangements have been made.

Donations can be made via internet banking, or at any Westpac branch. Details are as follows;

Account Name: ATF THE FRANKE FAMILY
Account Number: 260665
BSB: 035306

We would like to Thank the staff of Westpac bank for their help setting up the account and their generous contributions.

Condolences to all. Very very sad:sad:

Very sad indeed. Condolences to the Franke family and all colleges at Hardy's and the Flying School. :sad:

Farewell my friend, thankyou for all your help in getting me settled down in darwin, would have loved to done more flying with you.

I don't know how much I can write in this thread because the pain is too close at hand.

I just wanted to add that in the past 24 hours since I got the word the sheer number of people that I've spoken to that have been so hurt by the loss has been overwhelming. I've been totally moved by the number of calls, the concern and the responses on places like PPRuNe that help to celebrate his life. He left such a mark on all those that have flown with him and gotten to know him over the years, a mate that was always there to throw out a helping hand and go that extra mile with enthusiasm. I've known Dale for about 6 years and been proud to have him as a friend for almost all of that time. I know that even though he's gone, I'll be taking with me some of my fondest memories, those of the fun times & the hard times, and most importantly memories of the love and care Dale Rach and the kids gave me while I was up in Darwin and since then as we've gone down seperate paths in life.

My condolences to the family and friends of passenger that was also taken, and to all those that have hurt from this loss.

To Rach and the kids, Julie Khan & Dell. I still don't know if I've got the words, they aren't enough, love to you guys I'll see you soon.

Scott

Does anyone know if Rachel has an email my wife and I could write to? We´re far from Oz and cannot do otherwise. PM me if you do, Thanks.
MRC

Any news of the funeral? I have never met the guy, but it sure sounds like he will be missed, especially by his young family. A sad and tragic event. It would be nice to see a strong contingent of smartly uniformed airmen at his funeral. Funeral Details anyone?

Memorial Service
 

From the NT News Wednesday.

At the Gardens, Friday 27th @ 10:00, the old Wesleyian church.

:{ :(