Plane crash victims travelled from WA to buy kit-aircraft

Two men travelling from Perth were involved in a light aircraft crash in country New South Wales, with authorities confirming they died at the scene. The men were believed to have come to the region to purchase and bring home a kit-built plane.

The crash occurred shortly after take-off, in a paddock near the town of Scone in the NSW Upper Hunter, about 270 kilometers north of Sydney. Emergency services were called just before 2pm AEDT on Friday, and responders located the two occupants in the cockpit.

The aircraft was a two-seater ultralight that had recently been listed for sale. It had been described in a for-sale advertisement as Australian designed and built, with foldable wings for transport and storage, and was priced at $38,000.

A crime scene was established at the site as investigators began to determine the cause. NSW Police said the inquiry was in its early stages and would consider weather, pilot error, and mechanical factors, while noting the crash occurred on impact.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau indicated it had been informed of the incident but does not investigate recreational aircraft accidents, and the crash was also reported to Recreational Aviation Australia. A coroner’s report is expected after the initial assessment.