Two die in plane crash at Mudgee Airport

A Victorian couple died when a light plane crashed short of the Mudgee Airport runway near Henry Lawson Drive.

Around 10.55am on Sunday, emergency services were called to Mudgee Airport after reports that a plane had crashed into a paddock while approaching to land. 

Police arrived to find a man, believed to be aged in his 60s, dead inside the single-engine, two-seater plane.

NSW Ambulance Paramedics attempted to revive a woman who was a passenger in the plane. 

The woman, also aged in her 60s, died at the scene.

A Henry Lawson Drive resident said he heard the plane splutter and lose power as it passed overhead. 

From his house close to the crash site, he saw the plane bank sharply over Henry Lawson Drive and veer into the paddock on the eastern side of the road.  

He ran to the crash site, about 500 metres from airport runway, where a passing driver who had pulled up called 000.  

Leaconfield Drive resident Grant Willetts also heard the plane pass overhead and saw it bank sharply and fall to the ground on its side. 

“It hit with a thud but no explosion, smoke or fire,” Mr Willetts said. 

Mr Willetts also contacted 000 while his wife ran to direct emergency services to the site. 

Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside from Mudgee Police said the plane was one of four which had flown together to Mudgee from Dubbo. 

“This is a tragedy not only for those they were travelling with, but also due to its impact on a lot of people,” he said.  

Fire and Rescue NSW also attended the crash scene and VRA members diverted traffic and sightseers away from the site.  

A crime scene was established and will be examined by specialist forensic officers with police assisting investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). A report will also be prepared for the information of the Coroner. 

Henry Lawson Drive remained closed until late yesterday afternoon.