QLD father-to-be Rhiley Khurt may not have had a pilot’s license when he crashed plane with pregnant wife

A young father-to-be who was tragically killed in a plane crash along with his wife and unborn child may not have had a pilot’s license as specialist police continue the “difficult” task of recovering their bodies from remote bushland.

Rhiley Kuhrt, 22, and his partner Maree, 24, set off from Natal Downs cattle station, south of Charters Towers in rural Queensland, on Sunday afternoon.

The white-and-green Piper Cherokee they bought five months earlier failed to arrive at Lakeside Airpark, west of Prosperine, prompting a frantic search by authorities before the wreckage was discovered Monday.

It has since been revealed that Mr Kuhrt, the son of a local police officer, had not received his recreational pilot’s license (RPL) from the local Darling Downs Aero Club where he had flown for 30 hours prior to the crash.

Club CEO Allan Bougoure said Mr Kuhrt had left the local aero club before obtaining his license. Courier Mail reports.

His Flightradar24 history indicates that he has had no further training.

The couple planned to make the 90 miles (140 km) journey from the cattle station to Lakeside Airpark in Bloomsbury, which sparked concern when they failed to arrive.

They were due to have a baby girl in June and flew to a medical appointment at a local hospital in Prosperine.

Recreational pilots are only allowed to fly 15 miles (25 km) from their point of departure without a navigation endorsement, an additional course offered by most aviation schools.

Without an RPL, Mr. Kuhrt could not legally fly alone or with passengers.

An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) prevents the Civil Aviation Safety Authority from commenting on his licensing status.

The revelation comes as specialist officers battle difficult terrain and weather conditions while attempting to retrieve their bodies from remote bushland.

A specialist police unit flew into the Whitsundays on Tuesday before traveling to the scene west of Proserpine where they were hoisted into the undergrowth.

The couple (pictured) were due to have a baby girl in June and were on their way to a medical appointment at a local hospital in Prosperine when they crashed Sunday afternoon

Photos and videos from the couple’s social media pages have revealed that Mr. Kuhrt had a passion for flying, while his wife was an avid horsewoman (the couple is pictured)

Mackay superintendent Andrew Godbold said recovery efforts began on Wednesday as the disaster victim identification squad completed their investigation.

ATSB Chief Constable Angus Mitchell said we are still collecting evidence for the cause of the crash.

Mr Mitchell said information was collected on the pilot’s flying experience and qualifications, weather conditions and aircraft maintenance records.

Meanwhile, devastated relatives of the young couple have revealed the name they would have given their unborn child if she had survived.

Mr Kuhrt’s sister, Beccarah Markham-Gaudion, broke her silence on Tuesday, revealing that her brother and his wife were considering naming their child Phoebe.

Allan Bougoure, CEO of the Darling Downs Aero Club, said Mr Kuhrt (pictured) flew for 30 hours but left the club before obtaining his license

The couple (pictured) married last October and shared several photos of them kissing on a hillside and astride horses in a spacious paddock

She started a GoFundMe to raise money for their funerals and shared a heartbreaking photo of an unborn baby’s ultrasound.

Photos and videos from the couple’s social media pages have revealed that Mr. Kuhrt had a passion for flying, while his wife was an avid horsewoman.

The couple married last October and shared several photos of them kissing on a hillside and astride horses in a spacious paddock.

“My complete happiness,” Ms. Kuhrt captioned the photos.

Her husband’s latest Facebook post was a video recording of one of his many flights over rural South West Queensland.

Mackay precinct superintendent Andrew Godbold said the pair (pictured) would have experienced ‘a lot’ of downpours, thunderstorms and minimal visibility on their last flight

“Wick afternoon on the sorghum harvest and a little fun,” the message read.

In another video, Mr. Kuhrt is seen smiling and laughing for the camera before showing off a handful of dogs sitting patiently in the backseat.

Mackay precinct superintendent Andrew Godbold said the pair would have experienced “a lot” of rain showers, thunderstorms and minimal visibility during the flight.

A police spokeswoman said recovering their bodies would be “challenging.”

“Queensland Police Service and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the incident and the police will prepare a report for the coroner in relation to the matter,” she said.