An aerial search mission has ended in tragedy after a young couple were found deceased in the wreckage of a light aircraft earlier this week.
The Piper Cherokee aircraft was reported missing around 6:30pm, Sunday, April 2 when it failed to land as expected at Bloomsbury’s Lakeside Airpark.
The aircraft departed from a cattle station at Natal Downs, around 300km west of Mackay, on Sunday afternoon, due to land at Bloomsbury by 5:00pm.
A large-scale aerial search was conducted overnight, covering 330km, with a QG Air Rescue helicopter from Townsville discovering the wreckage in the rainforest-covered Clark Ranges, west of Proserpine, around 10:00am Monday morning.
The wreckage of a Piper Cherokee aircraft was discovered in the dense bushland of the Clark Ranges on Monday morning with the bodies of 22-year-old Rhiley Kuhrt and his pregnant 24-year-old wife Maree onboard.
The couple were enroute to Bloomsbury from Natal Downs when they were met with adverse weather conditions.
They had recently relocated to Natal Downs, near Charters Towers, to work on a cattle station and were flying east to visit family based in and around Mackay.
Mr Kuhrt, the son of a Mackay police officer, is said to have flown the route regularly.
A GoFundMe has been set up in aid of the two families by Mr Kuhrt’s sister, Beccarah Markham-Gaudion, where she described the flight as “routine”.
“We are all absolutely heartbroken and utterly grief stricken,” she said.
“Three incredible lives were cut way too short.”
Tributes have flown for the young “cowboy”, who would have celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday, his wife, who is believed to have a young daughter, and their unborn child.
“A fella couldn't help but be constantly impressed by Maree and Rhiley's sense of adventure and zest for life,” said one friend.
“You figure quick they're a special kind when you’re helping her onto the back of a rodeo bull and see he's managing cattle stations at such a young age.”
“You were honestly a beautiful couple and deserved nothing but happiness,” said another.
“I will cherish the memories and moments we had working together last year.
“Love you both to the moon and back.”
Investigations into the incident have begun between police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, with the retrieval operation taking days due to the limited access and rugged terrain of the crash site.
The wreckage of a Piper Cherokee light aircraft was discovered by a Townsville-based QG Air Rescue helicopter earlier this week. Photo credit: Rachael Smith
Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt died when their light aircraft crashed in the Clark Ranges, west of Proserpine. Photo supplied: Facebook
22-year-old Rhiley Kuhrt and 24-year-old Maree Kuhrt passed away following a light plane crash earlier this week. Photo supplied: Facebook
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