Plane Crash Claims 2 Lives
The Age
Thursday April 1, 1999
Two Victorian men - including a former mayor of Wangaratta - have been killed in an ultra-light plane crash in dense bushland in northern New South Wales.
Search authorities found the plane's wreckage yesterday about 30 kilometres south-east of Tenterfield.
The pilot of the Jabiru model ultra-light, Mr Kevin Gleeson, a 73-year-old former mayor of Wangaratta, and his passenger, 50-year-old Mr Bill Warrill from Croydon, were killed instantly in the crash.
They had been flying from Casino to Wangaratta, taking off about 10.30am on Tuesday. They had been scheduled to make a refuelling stop at Moree but never made it.
The Wangaratta Mayor, Cr Geoff Dinning, said the town was saddened by Mr Gleeson's death.
Mr Gleeson - a father of five who had 12 grandchildren - was a councillor in Wangaratta from 1989 to 1994 and was mayor from 1990 to 1993.
He was chief commissioner of Indigo Shire during local council amalgamations between 1994 and 1996. He was managing director of local radio station 3NE for more than 30 years.
The search began late on Tuesday afternoon and resumed again at daybreak yesterday.
More than 40 aircraft searched an area along the Newell Highway between Casino and Narromine and the wreckage was found at the foot of the Great Dividing Range.
Cr Dinning said Mr Gleeson was a keen and experienced pilot, with more than 40 years experience.
NSW police said a rescue team had to be flown into the rainforest country and would stay overnight to try to bring out the bodies today.
© 1999 The Age
