Pilots killed when their light plane plummeted into the ocean are identified as witnesses recall their harrowing final moments
Shortly after take-off, a light aircraft flew low over houses before crashing into the sea, killing two experienced pilots on board.
Emergency services responded to multiple triple-0 reports of a plane crashing into the water 1.5km south of Nambucca Heads on the NSW north coast just after 4pm on Saturday.
Midcoast Microlights chief flight instructor Mark White, 67, was killed along with his passenger, colleague Simon Peutrill, 69.
It is the second fatal light aircraft crash to devastate the Coffs Harbor region in a week.
Half an hour earlier, Mr White took off from Coffs Harbor bound for South West Rocks before disaster struck mid-flight.
Drone footage obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia showed two jet ski riders searching the wreckage of the plane on Saturday afternoon, while a larger rescue boat waited further offshore.
The plane’s tailfin and rudder were seen sticking out of the water.
Witnesses recalled seeing the plane flying very low over their homes just before it crashed into the sea.
Midcoast Microlights chief flight instructor Mark White, 67, and his colleague were killed when their plane crashed into the ocean off the NSW north coast on Saturday.
The wreckage was removed from the water on Sunday
‘[I] actually heard the plane go over the house, which was very low,” Todd O’Neill said Nine news.
“I knew that wasn’t right since there isn’t much airplane action here.
“The engine was running very low, it sounded like it was struggling for power.”
One of the bodies was recovered from the wreckage on Saturday.
Due to the difficult surfing conditions, the second body and plane wreckage were not recovered until the next day.
Mr White was a chief flight instructor/trainer at Coffs Harbour-based flying school Midcoast Microlights.
Only the tail fin and rudder of the plane stick out of the water (photo)
“He has many years of experience teaching pilots and instructors, and has trained many Australian and overseas students,” the website said.
“He also uses the Foxbat aircraft to teach students the skills of flying 3-axis aircraft.”
It is understood that Mr Peutrill had worked at Midcoast Microlights as a senior flight instructor since 2022.
NSW Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have launched separate investigations into the crash.
The latest tragedy is that Coffs Harbor businessman Jim Auld was killed in a separate light aircraft crash last Sunday.
Auld, 67, was piloting the plane with son Robert, 32, on board as it took off shortly from McIntyres Airfield on Palmers Island near Yamba in northern NSW.
The plane crashed just minutes after taking off from the private airstrip.
His son survived but was seriously injured.