A WEEKEND joy flight turned to tragedy on Sunday when a light plane crashed at a property south of Tenterfield, killing the two people on-board.
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The pilot of a micro light aircraft, 51-year-old Oak Flats man Steve Benko, and his 55-year-old partner, Albion Park woman Michelle Stewart, both died at the scene.
Police and emergency services were called to the fatal crash site – a property on Nine Mile Rd near Dundee – around 10.30am on Sunday.
The aircraft crashed in a paddock adjoining the River Glen Bed and Breakfast, 150 metres from the road and 1.5 kilometres northeast from an airstrip.
The farmstay is known for recreational flying and hosts two private airstrips for microlight pilots, with a longer airstrip for light aircraft nearby.
New England Acting Inspector John Walkowiak said the families of the pair had requested privacy in the wake of their shock loss.
“[The man and woman] were staying at the property when the accident occurred,” he said, adding they were only visiting the area.
It’s believed the couple were visiting friends at the River Glen B&B.
“The families are understandably very distraught.”
The pair’s death was confirmed on Facebook by Mr Benko’s son.
“They will both be truly missed by everyone and myself especially,” son, Jacob, wrote.
Mr Benko’s first wife Tracy died of cancer three-years-ago before he met Michelle.
Steve was an electrician and had his own business, Rivers Solar and Electrical Services, in the Illawarra region.
On Monday specialist investigators combed the scene for a second day as they tried to piece together what went wrong.
“The plane and scene have been examined by the Police Aviation Investigation Support Unit, and they have finished their investigation today,” Acting Inspector Walkowiak said.
Acting Inspector Walkowiak said the investigators were helping local detectives to compile a report for the coroner and would provide expert advice on any mechanical problems, conditions and any other factors which could have contributed to the fatal crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will not be investigating the accident.
An ATSB spokesperson said it was “very rare” for the bureau to investigate microlight or ultralight aircraft accidents, even when they proved fatal.
