NSW: Pilot had zero chance of survival, police say

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2008
NSW: Pilot had zero chance of survival, police say

SYDNEY, April 10 AAP - The pilot of a plane missing off the coast of southern Sydney
had "zero" chance of survival, police say.

The 43-year-old Sydney man was at the controls of the twin-engine Metroliner when it
went down in the sea late last night.

The Metroliner, a 19-seat aircraft when used as a passenger plane, was on a mail run
for Airtex Aviation.

Inspector Glenn Finniss of the Marine Area Command said the plane hit the water at high speed.

"The wreckage that's been recovered thus far would indicate a high speed impact into
the water and the survivability of that was very, very minimal," he told reporters today.

"Because of the search ... we did last night and this morning, the chances of survival are zero."

The search for the pilot would be called off at nightfall, he said.

The pilot reported problems to air traffic control a short time after taking off from
Sydney airport at 11.30pm (AEST) yesterday.

The plane dropped off the radar moments later.

AAP sk/hn/ldj/cdh

KEYWORD: PLANE PILOT LEAD

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