Two men have died after a light plane crashed shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip on the Gold Coast on Tuesday morning. The aircraft came down at Heck Field in Woongoolba, near Jacobs Well, just before 6am.
Police identified the pilot as a 73-year-old man from Beenleigh, and his passenger, believed to be from Sydney. Both died at the scene. Gold Coast Police District Superintendent Brett Jackson said the crash was so severe that neither occupant survived.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation. Investigators will examine the wreckage, flight tracking data, pilot and maintenance records, and weather information. A preliminary report is expected in about eight weeks.
The crash sparked a large grassfire that spread through sugarcane fields and coastal vegetation. About 50 firefighters and 18 appliances are working to contain the blaze, which is producing heavy smoke. Residents near Jacobs Well have been advised to stay indoors and close windows.
