The single-occupant glider and ultralight aircraft collided at about 2.45pm yesterday at Kybong’s Gympie Airport, about 40 kilometers north-west of Noosa Heads.
Turner, 80, and Irvine, 77, both died at the scene.
Kybong light plane crash victim identified as local glider Christopher ‘Bob’ Turner (left). (9 News)
Residents struggling to come to terms with the tragedy remembered the elderly man as a beloved local glider.
Gliding Australia vice president Lindsay Mitchell said Turner was a “quiet gentleman who loved his sport”.
“I would have gone up there to enjoy myself,” Mitchell said
“… I guess we’re surprised and facing each other.”
Turner (right) is understood to have been in the air just 20 minutes before the collision happened. (9 news)
Turner is understood to have been in the air just 20 minutes before the collision occurred.
“We heard a big bang – I thought it didn’t sound right,” said witness John Kenman.
“I didn’t really know, I never imagined that the two could have collided.”
Turner is understood to have been in the air just 20 minutes before the collision occurred. (9 news)
It was unclear exactly where Irvine’s Kappa KP 2U light aircraft had taken off and was headed.
It is understood no calls were made at Gympie airfield, and an investigation will be carried out into how the two managed to be in the same place at the same time.
Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said it was “difficult” to determine what caused the collision.
“You just feel for the families involved,” he said.
Gympie Regional Council’s mayor said it was “difficult” to determine exactly what had happened. (9 News)
Debris from the aircraft was thrown hundreds of meters apart across nearby paddocks.
Police said they would remain at the scene for some time collecting evidence.