June 17  2007
A 53-year-old grandfather along with his 13-year-old granddaughter were killed when the Pulsar 2-sear aircraft they were in impacted into the ocean off Caloundra's Kings Beach on QLD's Sunshine Coast

Witnesses told Police that the machine "..was seen to spin in the air and spiral into the water" - wreckage was found to be strewn over more than a kilometer

 
The Energex Community rescue helicopter along with the Caloundra Coastguard - local lifesavers and Water Police - all responded to the emergency - the two aircraft occupants were found to be deceased on emergency services arrival

The Coast Guard retrieved a number of major components from the fibreglass constructed machine and returned them to shore for inspection by the appropriate authorities

June 15  2007
A student pilot undergoing training in a 2-seat Jabiru 160 had the engine fail shortly after take-off from SA's Aldinga aerodrome around 60 km south of Adelaide

The instructor immediately took over control and headed for a vineyard below aiming up to land between the vines thus allowing the wings to absorb most of the impact energy

 
The instructor and his trainee pilot were able to walk away uninjured after it ended up inverted on vineyard wires allowing sufficient room to evacuate without further drama

News Desk Comment

Another OZ built Jabiru prang - see April 2007 report on the Bundaberg designed and built machines - HERE