Qld: Pilot of ill fated plane not warned of bad weather: court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
Qld: Pilot of ill fated plane not warned of bad weather: court

An inquest has heard how the chief pilot of an air charter operation failed to warn
an inexperienced pilot of bad weather before his plane vanished.

The Karumba Air Services Cessna 206 disappeared on a flight between Mornington Island
and Normanton in the Gulf of Carpentaria on November 24 last year.

On board were 21-year-old pilot, ANDREW ANTHONISZ, and passengers NELSON GAVENOR, ANDREW
MARMIES, GRAHAM and GAVIN WILSON and OLIVE LOOGATHA, who were flying to a Carpentaria
Land Council meeting in Normanton.

Giving evidence at the inquest in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today, chief pilot
MAXWELL DAVEY testified he received three calls about the terrible weather in the area
within 30 minutes of Mr ANTHONISZ's take-off time.

But he said he did not think it necessary to warn him.

He said the pilot would have seen the conditions, and the information he had was that
the plane would be flying above the weather.

But Mr DAVEY conceded Mr ANTHONISZ was an inexperienced pilot, who had lodged 618 flying
hours and had never flown in a wet season before.

The inquest, before Coroner MICHAEL HALLIDAY, has been adjourned to resume in Brisbane
on December 11.

AAP RTV smk/jhm/gp/jn

KEYWORD: PLANE (BRISBANE)

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