A light plane was seen flying low over homes shortly after take-off before it plunged into the sea, killing two experienced pilots on board.
Emergency services responded to multiple triple-0 reports about plane crashing into the water 1.5km south of Nambucca Heads on the NSW mid north coast just after 4pm on Saturday.
Midcoast Microlights chief flying instructor Mark White, 67, was killed alongside his passenger, colleague Simon Peutrill, 69.
It’s the second fatal light plane crash within a week to devastate the Coffs Harbour region.
Half an hour earlier, Mr White took off from Coffs Harbour bound for South West Rocks before tragedy struck midway through the flight.
Drone footage, obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, showed two jet ski riders searching the wreckage of the plane on Saturday afternoon, while a larger rescue boat waited further offshore.
The aircraft’s tail fin and rudder were seen poking from the water.
Witnesses recalled the plane seeing the plane flying very low above their homes moments before it crashed into the sea.
Midcoast Microlights chief flying instructor Mark White, 67, and his colleague were killed when their aircraft crashed into the ocean off the NSW mid north coast on Saturday
The wreckage was recovered from the water on Sunday
‘[I] heard the plane actually go over home, which was very low,’ Todd O’Neill told Nine News.
‘I knew that’s not right considering we don’t get much plane action around here.
‘The engine was very low revving – it sounded as though it was struggling for power.’
One of the bodies was recovered from the wreckage on Saturday.
Due to the difficult surf conditions, the second body and plane wreckage weren’t recovered until the next day.
Mr White was a chief flight instructor/trainer at Coffs Harbour-based flying school Midcoast Microlights.
Only the aircraft’s tail fin and rudder can be seen poking from the water (pictured)
‘He has many years experience in teaching pilots and instructors, having trained many Australian and overseas students,’ its website states.
‘He also uses the Foxbat aircraft to teach students the skills of flying 3-axis aircraft.’
It’s understood Mr Peutrill had been with Midcoast Microlights as a senior flying instructor since 2022.
NSW Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have launched separate investigations into the crash.
The latest tragedy comes Coffs Harbour businessman Jim Auld was killed in a separate light plane crash last Sunday.
Auld, 67, was flying the plane with son Robert, 32, on board when it took off from McIntyres Airfield in Palmers Island near Yamba in northern NSW shortly.
The aircraft crashed just minutes after taking off from the private airstrip.
His son survived but was seriously injured.
