A two-seater Monnett Sonerai II-l ultralight with only the pilot on board that had departed Murwillumbah this morning was reported overdue when if failed to return as expected by about 1000-hrs

The home-built aircraft was recently acquired by the 72-year-old experienced commercial pilot and "did not have an emergency beacon" - which is not a mandatory requirement for ultralights

 A searcher on horseback found the crashed plane on a private property at Limpinwood about 25 kilometres west of Murwillumbah

"The pilot — believed to be a 72-year-old man — died at the scene" ..."been flying for at least 32 years" and was "a great aviator"