A Sydney Seaplanes plane similar to the one that went down. Photo / Tim Wood
A Sydney Seaplanes plane similar to the one that went down. Photo / Tim Wood
The seaplane that crashed killing six people north of Sydney on New Year's Eve had been "destroyed" in a previous fatal crash accident and rebuilt, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report shows.
WA Today reports the aircraft involved in the crash had previously flown as a crop duster with a different registration but the same serial number. It crashed, killing the pilot, in November 1996 during hot gusty winds in NSW.
The report from that crash notes that the plane "did not seem to be climbing sufficiently to pass over the hill in front of it".
"The aircraft was then seen to be in a climbing left turn, towards the driver with superphosphate dumping from it. The aircraft's left wingtip contacted the ground after which the aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest 200-300 metres from the superphosphate dump," it said.
"The driver ran down to the aircraft and found the pilot still strapped in the seat with no apparent sign of life. He moved the pilot clear of the aircraft in case of fire and then summoned help."
The report listed the plane as "destroyed" and the accident "fatal".
The plane had since been rebuilt and made safe to fly, WA Today claims. It's believed to have changed hands several times before Sydney Seaplanes bought it.
Previous owners said they found the plane "reliable", and Sydney Seaplanes boss Aaron Shaw said this week the engines were replaced every 1100 flying hours — faster than the industry standard and the plane in question had only flown 200 hours.
Gareth Morgan died when his seaplane crashed on New Year's Eve. Photo / Facebook
Former clients share footage of pilot
The revelations come as friends and former clients of pilot Gareth Morgan shared footage on a tribute page of him flying.
Vietnamese woman Tam Phan posted that she travelled in the same model of DHC-2 Beaver seaplane in July 2017, and added a video from the trip.
It was our 10th wedding anniversary (25 July 2017) when Gareth Morgan took us to a sky tour over Sydney harbour in the DHC-2 Beaver seaplane. Gareth was so nice with his good sense of humor that made us feel so comfortable and enjoy the whole experience. It was one of our most memorable days. We are so sad to hear the news. Our condolences go to Gareth's family and his loved ones.
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Từ hôm qua đến hôm nay bị shock vì vụ rơi máy bay thủy phi cơ. Phi công người Canada Gareth Morgan- Man After God's Heart chính là người đã lái chiếc Caledonia DHC-2 Beaver 1961 đưa vợ chồng mình bay vòng quanh cảng biển Sydney nhân dịp kỷ niệm 10 năm ngày cưới 25/7/2017. Máy bay rơi đúng vào ngày cuối cùng của năm 2017 chở gia đình người Anh 5 người. Cả 6 người trên chuyến bay định mệnh này đều thiệt mạng. It's so sad. RIP.
Tai nạn này là breaking news hôm giao thừa http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5227693/Brit-family-flew-doomed-Sydney-seaplane-hours-crash.html
Đây là 1 đoạn clip ngắn mình quay khi Gareth chuẩn bị khởi động chiếc thủy phi cơ.
Tam Phan
"Gareth was so nice with his good sense of humour that made us feel so comfortable and enjoy the whole experience," she wrote.
"It was one of our most memorable days as a couple. We are so sad to hear the news. Our condolences go to Gareth's family and loved ones."
Former client Sun Ny Fung also posted an eight-second clip and said she travelled with him in September.
"Seemed like a nice guy. RIP," she said.
Nikki Holdaway wrote that she was also "fortunate enough" to be on one of his flights in July and was devastated by his death.
"Despite our very brief encounter, and him being a man of few words, I remember him very well. I don't really know why, but there must have been something very special about him for me to remember him so clearly. This is utterly devastating — I hope you are at peace Gareth xx," she said.
Others shared pictures and memories of their friendship with the devout Christian on a page called Gareth Morgan, Man after God's Heart. They wrote at being crushed at the shock death of the experienced pilot, who has been described as a "true gentleman with a big heart" by his local pastor.
The Daily Telegraph reports the 44-year-old always prayed before his flights and read the Bible daily. A flatmate described his kindness and geniality.
Morgan was killed in the crash along with his passengers, a UK family. Richard Cousins, his two adult sons Edward and William, his fiancee Emma Bowden and her 11-year-old daughter died when the plane plunged into Jerusalem Bay on December 31.
NSW police will try to recover the Sydney Seaplanes DHC-2 Beaver from the Hawkesbury River today in an operation that's expected to start at dawn and run into the afternoon. All Waterfront Constructions plans to use a crane on a barge to pull the seaplane, which is resting on its roof, from the riverbed. Two slings will be lowered and passed through the aircraft's cabin by police divers, operations director Chris Kemp told AAP yesterday. "Then we'll be lifting the whole lot up and placing it on the barge," he said.
