Approximately 5.25pm on Friday 15 October 2010 police were notified of a light plane crash in rugged bushland in the vicinity of Mount Strzelecki, on Flinders Island.

The aircraft had taken off from Lady Barron bound for Bridport, the aircraft encountered heavy cloud and attempted to return to Lady Barron. It appears that the aircraft has then crashed into heavy bush, in steep terrain south of Mount Strzelecki.

An immediate search was launched by AusSAR and Tasmania Police, utilising three helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft.  One helicopter was forced to return to Victoria as a result of adverse weather conditions.  Ground crews consisting of police, volunteers and SES from Flinders Island were also utilised in the search.

At about 8.40pm the Pilot was rescued from thick bushland by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, after leaving the crash site to obtain help.  Searching continued to locate the crash site where six passengers had remained.

Shortly after midnight the crash site was located by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and a paramedic was winched to the scene.  At 3.30am the last of the passengers was winched from the crash and flown to Whitemark.  All six are suffering from mild hypothermia but have no injuries other than minor scrapes and bruising.

An investigation into the crash will be conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Tasmania Police Media
(03) 6230 2296