Lake George plane crash: Heartbreaking new details emerge about final days of children tragically killed alongside their grandfather
Three children killed in a serious crash along with their grandfather had celebrated their team’s stunning last-minute grand final victory just days earlier.
Peter Nally, 65, his grandson Raphael, 11, and two granddaughters, nine-year-old Evita and six-year-old Philomena, died when the five-seater Cirrus SR22 Mr. Friday.
or GoFundMe page has since been set up to raise funds to support parents Elyse and Dave Smith and extended family.
She revealed that the children’s last day was spent at the zoo, and then they tried to save the animals in a trick-or-treating game.
“After spending Thursday, October 5 at the zoo, the children spent the evening engaging in several hours of trick-or-treating, rescuing animals from hunters inside an elaborate living room,” said family friend Kristin Boyle.
Raphael, 11, Evita, 9, and Philomena, 6, spent their last day together at the zoo before they tragically died in a plane crash on Friday
The trio were also big supporters of the Penrith Panthers Rugby League team.
“All three were passionate Penrith Panthers supporters and raised the roof at their home in Armidale on Sunday night watching their team’s great win!” page read.
She described the children as “magnificent, imaginative, clever, fun and compassionate”, Ms Boyle said.
“Raphael, Evita and Philomena loved reading, creating art and playing sports, helping their adoring mum and dad and playing with their little brothers and cousins.”
“They were happy children who knew every day how much they were loved.
The honor was also given to Mr. Nally, who was a very experienced pilot.
“This loss will echo in the lives of Elise, David, Eamon and Reuben, and Teresa, Peter’s wife and the children’s grandmother.”
The three children died along with their grandfather Peter Nally, 65, when the light aircraft Mr Nally was piloting crashed.
A GoFundMe page revealed that Raphael, Evita and Philomena spent their last day at the zoo and then played a trick-or-treat game where they pretended to be rescuing animals (pictured, the children with their siblings and parents Elyse and Dave Smith)
Mrs Boyle explained that fundraising was “being coordinated to help the family with the inevitable costs over the coming months”.
She said the funds would also ‘allow them time together to find strength as they forge a path’.
“Dave and Elise appreciate everyone’s love, care and generosity, but remain, as all who know them will testify, humble in their needs,” she added.
The plane had taken off from Canberra on a 750km journey to Armidale in northern NSW but missed 20 minutes into the flight.
Mr Nally, who has hundreds of hours of flying experience, is from Bunya in Brisbane and had flown from Redcliffe Aero Club to Armidale to visit his daughter Elyse.
He then took his three eldest grandchildren on a flight to Canberra, where they visited extended family for two days before trying to fly back.
The plane crashed minutes after takeoff, initially climbing to 9,000 feet before quickly losing altitude and crashing into a shelter at Gundaroo, north of Queanbeyan, where it burst into flames.
The single-engine plane exploded on impact around 2:50 p.m.
The Redcliffe Aero Club released a statement on Saturday following the crash.
“The Redcliffe Aero Club extends its deepest condolences to the family of the pilot and passengers who were tragically killed on Friday 6 October 2023,” the organization said.
The pilot was active in the social side of the Club with many hours of flying experience.
The club added that the plane was privately owned and not operated by the club. It is registered with Up n Up Aviation.
The single-engine five-seat Cirrus SR22 VH-MSF crashed and burned near Lake George in the NSW Tablelands about 2.52pm on Friday
The light aircraft (pictured) crashed north-east of Canberra on Friday afternoon before bursting into flames
Emergency crews (pictured) arrived at the scene after the crash, while firefighters from the Rural Fire Service worked quickly to extinguish the flames.
TThe Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Saturday that teams were examining the crash site to determine what happened.
“This will be a difficult undertaking given how charred the wreckage is,” said ATSB’s Colin McNamara.
“But over the next few days, I am fully confident that investigators will gather as much information and evidence as they can from the scene of the accident.”
Mr McNamara said ATSB crews would monitor for spilled chemicals, burnt carbon fiber and possible explosive materials.
Investigators are said to be focusing on why a special parachute, which is a standard safety feature on the plane, did not appear to deploy.
The Cirrus SR22 has an integrated whole-aircraft ‘ballistic parachute’ designed to prevent such collisions.
According to the company, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System is unique in aviation, having saved more than 100 lives with a ‘very high success rate’ when deployed above 1,000 feet.
It is learned that the plane disappeared from the radar screens 16 minutes after departure on Friday.
Air traffic control tried repeatedly to elicit a response from Mr.
The Redcliffe Aero Club in Queensland released a statement on Saturday saying the pilot was active in their club
The Cirrus SR22 has an entire aircraft parachute as a standard safety feature that has a very high success rate for saving lives when deployed above 1,000 feet.
Six minutes after takeoff, the plane went into a steep dive near Lake George with air traffic control unable to establish communications with the pilot.
Mr McNamara praised the first responders at the scene.
“These are truly tragic circumstances made worse by news that children are involved,” he said.
He also urged any other witnesses to the crash to contact the ATSB.
“Yesterday we were contacted by witnesses for whom we are very grateful. This prompts me to say, if anyone has relevant information about this accident, please go to our website.’
A witness reportedly saw the plane traveling just above the tree line before crashing heavily into the ground.
The area was still alight when emergency crews arrived and firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the flames.
“When the police arrived with the RFS services there was a small fire in the grass and obviously a catastrophic crash of a small light aircraft,” said Superintendent of Police Cath Bradbury.
The RFS put the aircraft out – unfortunately there are no survivors. They have not yet been officially identified. A report will be prepared for the doctor.’
The US-made Cirrus SR-22 is a single-engine aircraft and one of the most popular General Aviation aircraft in the world, regularly topping global best-seller lists.
McNamara said engineers will study the plane’s maintenance log as well as the pilot’s flight history.
The ATSB’s preliminary report is expected to be released within two months.
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