Pilot killed in Southwest Tasmania

Living in Hobart, Tasmania for over 30 yrs this story saddens me deeply, I know the airline, I know the plane and I know the area where the aircraft went down.

PAR AVION BRITTEN NORMAN ISLANDER BN 20      File Photo

VH-OBL (CN 2035) 

A Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander, (Owned by Airlines of Tasmania) operated by Par-Avion, impacted mountainous terrain in the Southwest National Park in Tasmania yesterday. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, is presumed to have died. The aircraft departed Hobart's Cambridge Airport (YCBG) at 07:48 hours local time on a repositioning flight to Bathurst Harbour Airport (YBHB) to pick up passengers. The aircraft went missing about 08:30. The aircraft's last datapoint at 08:28 hours, showed the aircraft being 94 km from Hobart and some 32 km northeast of the destination airport. The wreckage was spotted from a rescue helicopter at West Portal, near the Western Arthur Ranges, shortly after 7pm last night, Tasmania Police said. Search and rescue police on board the Westpac Rescue helicopter determined there was no chance the solo pilot could have survived the crash. It was considered too dangerous to winch them down to the site, and an investigation team is due to be airlifted there on Sunday. Inspector Dave Wiss said the terrain was steep and dangerous. "Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time," he said in a statement late yesterday. Earlier, Airlines of Tasmania managing director Shannon Wells said the pilot had been with the company for three years and was "very experienced and well qualified".


Aircraft Details
Airline: Par Avion
Aircraft Type: Britten Normal Islander
Engines: Textron Lycoming
Registration: VH-OBL
Serial Number: 2035
First Flew: 29/10/1986
Age: 32 Years 2 Months

Thoughts and prayers go out to the immediate family and friends and to the staff at Par Avion and Airlines of Tasmania

Story sourced from here with additions
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/plane-wreckage-found-in-southwest-tas