One dead in Riverina plane crash

[nzompilot]

Source: www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24937039-952,00.html

ONE person is confirmed dead after an aerobatic plane crashed and burst into flames near an aviation museum in the Riverina district of New South Wales.

The plane caught fire after crashing near the Aviation Museum at Temora, about 80km from Wagga Wagga, just after 10.30am (AEDT).

"The plane is currently on fire and one person is confirmed deceased in the accident," the ambulance service said.

Police confirmed the small plane had just one occupant, but could not immediately provide further information.

Police said an emergency call was made from Airport Road, Temora.

The fatal crash came half an hour after a light aircraft overturned on a runway at the Old Bar Airstrip near Taree, on the NSW mid north coast.

The ambulance service said the plane came to rest on its roof.

Paramedics treated two occupants who managed to free themselves from the aircraft.

[corsair67]

This is very sad news.

[nzompilot]

**UNCONFIRMED REPORT**

Another forum I belong to, has named the pilot as Tom Moon, and says he was in the process of filming a DVD on aerobatics when the crash occurred.

I stress this has not been officially confirmed and hence I post with disclaimer

**UNCONFIRMED REPORT**

[FlyNavy]

Tom Moon Temora BIO page here: www.aviationmuseum.com.au/museum/TomMoonFlight.cfm

[nzompilot]

Sydney Morning Herald are now reporting it as Tom Moon



Aerobatic pilot killed

A champion aerobatic pilot and good friend of Sydney businessman David Lowy was killed in a plane crash in NSW's Riverina this morning.

Sydney accountant Tom Moon was flying his aerobatic plane at Temora Airport when it crashed about halfway along the runway near the Temora Aviation Museum just after 10.30am.

Mr Moon was the museum's treasurer and one of its directors. His biography on the museum website says he was a chartered accountant for 24 years and obtained his pilot's licence in 1986.

He had more than 1400 hours flying experience, 1100 of those spent flying aerobatics.

"Mr Moon won the Australian National Aerobatic Championships in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 and has competed at three World Championships where he was the highest placed Australian in two of those events," his biography states.

'One of the most qualified'

"He has won the NSW title six times and has been Australian Freestyle Champion five times. He is regarded as one of the most qualified and awarded aerobatic pilots in Australia and performs regularly at air shows and sporting events."

Mr Moon's mentor was the French world champion aerobatic pilot, Xavier de Lapparent.

Temora is about 80 kilometres north of Wagga Wagga in the south-west Riverina district.

The airport was home to an RAAF flying school from 1941 until 1946 and was used for a variety of aviation sports for five decades until Mr Lowy set up the Temora Aviation Museum on the site in 1999.

An article published in the Herald in 2006 said Mr Moon and Mr Lowy were flying mates who found the old Temora aerodrome and converted it into a national aviation museum.

"It's enormous what [Mr Lowy's] done," Mr Moon said at the time.

"It's respected worldwide as one of the best war aviation museums in the world.

"It's interestingly one of the only museums where everything flies. We don't want static aeroplanes sitting around gathering dust."

It is understood Mr Lowy is overseas. A spokeswoman for the Westfield group said the company would not comment on the crash.

A museum employee said she could not comment on the crash.

Tributes

Contributors to online pilots forum PPRuNE say the aircraft involved was an Extra 300 series aerobatic plane.

They paid tribute to the pilot.

"A true gentleman of aviation," one said. "The community has suffered a massive loss ... my phone has been ringing off the hook with people that just can't believe it."

Another contributor wrote: "He, in his unique way, has done so much for so many in Aviation and elsewhere over the years! I am sure he would have wished to be in no other seat than that one when the time came to meet the maker! RIP Cobba!!!"

Temora Aero Club president Rob Maslin said details about the crash were sketchy at this stage.

"I can't comment much on it, other than it's a single engine aircraft that crashed with one man on board," Mr Maslin said.

Crash investigators were travelling to airport to investigate, police said.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.

A report is also being prepared by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Light aircraft overturns

The fatal crash came half an hour after a light aircraft overturned on a runway at the Old Bar Airstrip near Taree, on the NSW Mid North Coast.

The NSW Ambulance Service said the plane flipped on a runway and came to rest on its roof.

Paramedics treated two occupants who freed themselves from the aircraft.

www.smh.com.au/news/news/general/aerobatic-pilot-killed/2009/01/20/1232213598441.html

[yak2]

I have heard it was TM in the circumstances as described. Another very experienced pilot......ex Australian aerobatics champion and a regular at Temora flying the Wirraway.
Not good.

[corsair67]

I was hoping it wasn't Tom, but I had a suspicion that it could have been him.

This is very sad news indeed. Tom was a real gentleman and always a great performer at the flying days at Temora.

R.I.P. Mr Moon.

[planeimages]

Tom was a lovely man and a delight to watch performing with his Extra 300.

[Dave Homewood]

That is sad news to hear.

I wonder if forum member Keith was doing the filming? My thoughts are with the Temora folk and his family and friends.

[planeimages]

Tom Moon. Aerobatic champion. Great bloke, R.I.P.

[glenn]