16/4/2007 - Pillinger Plane Wreck

Many years ago, I heard a story about a plane that crashed into the slopes of Mt Pillinger while attempting a food drop to a Boys Brigade group camped at Lees Paddocks.  The pilot was the only person on board and walked away relatively unscathed.

After getting instructions from a friend, I found the wreck and took a few groups to see it during the mid nineties.  None of the groups had a real interest in planes so each time, it was a fairly brief stop before we continued our walk.

Recently, I met a bloke who was a commercial pilot and loves anything to do with flying.  When I suggested a trip to visit a plane wreck deep in the rain-forested slopes of a mountain, he was keen as mustard.

Yesterday, we took advantage of a gorgeous autumn day and headed for the upper Mersey high country.  It had been 11 years since I last found the wreck but my memory is still serving me well.  After following a  bearing through various vegetation types, the compass led us directly to the wreck in King William pine forest on a very steep slope.

For the next half hour, my friend studied the wreck and informed me it was a Piper Cherokee 140 and would have been quite new when it crashed.  He was able to identify a large percentage of the plane, including wings, fuselage, pedals, seats, engine, wheel struts, etc.  It looks like some souveniers have been taken such as the propeller, tail and wheels.  Even one of the 4 engine cylinders is missing.  That would weigh a bit!

After perusing the wreck, we returned to the road via a slightly different route.  It was a terrific day for bushwalking and I'm thrilled to have been able to share the wreck with someone who could really appreciate it.

19/4/2007 - this is my No. 1 son-in-law

9/2/2010 - Plane wreck

23/2/2010 - 1970's Plane Crash