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A pilot has been found guilty after a light plane crash killed a British tourist in central Queensland.
Leslie Ronald Woodall was flying three passengers from Agnes Water to Middle Island in a Cessna aircraft on January 10, 2017.
About seven minutes into the flight, and about 200 feet above sea level, the single engine failed. The plane crashed into the sand, killing UK woman Jocelyn Spurway, 29. Another passenger, 21-year-old Irish woman Hannah O’Dowd, was seriously injured.
Woodall was charged with the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm.
During his almost three-day trial at Brisbane District Court, the prosecution argued that it wasn’t the engine failure that caused the crash but rather Woodall’s actions afterwards.
They said he should have maintained control of the plane and been able to glide it to land safely, as per his training.
Instead, he made a sharp left-hand turn which caused the crash.
The defence argued it was a stressful situation and Woodall had limited options, none of which would have had a good outcome.
The jury was shown footage, filmed by a passenger from inside the cockpit, that included the moment the engine failed, and the crash landing. The trial also heard from several aviation witnesses who said Woodall’s manoeuvre went against best practice.
After four hours of deliberation on Wednesday, the jury found Woodall guilty of dangerously operating the light plane.
Woodall left court on bail but will return on Thursday for his sentencing.
