Pilot Killed After Mid-Air Collision Over Sydney’s South-West
What happened in Sydney’s south-west today has left the local aviation community deeply shaken. A tragic mid-air collision involving two light aircraft was reported late Sunday morning, and it quickly became clear that the incident would have devastating consequences.
According to early details, the collision occurred just before midday near Napper Field in Wedderburn, a well-known spot for recreational flying. Two Van’s RV-7 light planes were taking part in a formation flight with two other aircraft — something the group was said to do almost every weekend. The planes were returning to land when, in a matter of seconds, everything went wrong. One of the aircraft managed to land safely, its pilot unharmed, but the other spiraled down into nearby bushland, where its pilot was later found dead.
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Emergency services arrived within minutes after multiple calls were made reporting a crash. Police and paramedics moved quickly to secure the area, later establishing two crime scenes to assist investigators. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was notified immediately, and a team of four investigators was sent to the site. Their work over the next few days will involve mapping the crash scene, documenting the wreckage, and collecting any components that may help them understand how the collision unfolded. They will also review air traffic recordings, flight tracking data, maintenance logs, and weather conditions from the morning.
Witnesses described the moments leading up to the collision as both sudden and confusing. John Taru, a member of the same sport aviation club as the victim, recalled watching the aircraft flying closely together as they practiced formation flying. He noted that the conditions had been choppy, which may have played a role. Moments later, he heard a loud bang — a noise he initially thought had come from something striking his hangar. When he stepped outside, there was nothing unusual in sight. But minutes later, emergency vehicles began rushing toward the bushland nearby, and the reality of what had happened became painfully clear.
For the tight-knit flying community based at Wedderburn, the loss is deeply personal. Members are now grieving the death of a familiar face — someone who shared the same skies with them week after week.
The ATSB will release a preliminary report in about two months, with a full investigation to follow. In the meantime, authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or captured footage to come forward, as every detail could help determine what led to this tragic accident.
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