NORTHERN Territory beef producers Fred and Sarah Hughes, Lake Nash Station, Barkly Tableland are counting their lucky stars today after safely landing their Cessna 206, just two kilometres north of Stanwell enroute to Rockhampton.
The couple, with two other passengers on-board including Sarah’s father Patrick Chaplain of Cloncurry, left Dingo earlier this morning to travel to Beef 2015.
The pair are both licensed pilots and it is understood Sarah was at the controls.
Blackall grazier Terry Russell, and son Cam, of Swan Hill, were eye witnesses to the drama that unfolded in the air.
With Rockhampton airport closed due to fog, both he and the Hughes diverted to Duaringa airport to await clearance.
“We were flying up from Swan Hill at Blackall and decided to wait it out,” Mr Russell said.
“Once we got the all clear, we took off first and had only got to about 2500 feet when they sent the May Day out.
“I’ve never waved goodbye to anyone and heard them send out a May Day just after that. My heart stopped.”
Mr Russell’s son Cam flew back over the Hughes and their Cessna 206 plane to make sure they had landed safely before continuing on to Rockhampton and Beef 2015.
Another Blackall grazier, Iain Scholes was in the air circling when he heard Ms Hughes make the May Day call, saying she had engine trouble.
“It was between 9.30 and a quarter to 10, somewhere between the way point at Stanwell power station and Rockhampton airport,” he said.
“I believe they were able to land on a bitumen road nearby.”
Mr Russell said there was some rough country in the region of the incident.
“There was a lot of luck involved in the story,” he said.
