Gareth Martin, who lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the Hawkesbury River, has been described as ‘a gentleman of the skies’
The pilot who lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the Hawkesbury River has been described as ‘a gentleman of the skies’ ahead of his funeral.
Gareth Morgan, 44, was at the helm of the doomed aircraft when it nosedived into the river, north of Sydney, killing him and a British family of five.
Family and friends gathered on Sunday at the Jubilee Church in Waverley where Mr Morgan attended services.
‘He would always come to church on Sunday when he wasn’t working, dressed immaculately, and he loved wearing smart, shiny shoes,’ pastor Fini De Gersigny told The Daily Telegraph.
‘It’s been very difficult for us, Gareth was a man of the church for five or six years and was always offering his support to those in the church who needed it… He was a gentleman of the skies.’
Mr Morgan’s funeral service will be held at Jubilee Church on Wednesday morning.
‘It has been a difficult time for all who knew him but it will be an amazing reflection on who he was and how loved he is,’ the church posted on Facebook.
‘Thank you and bless you all.’
Mr Morgan was at the helm of the doomed aircraft when it nosedived into the river, north of Sydney, killing him and a British family of five
Pastor Fini De Gersigny said: ‘It’s been very difficult for us, Gareth was a man of the church for five or six years’
Mr Morgan’s funeral service will be held at Jubilee Church on Wednesday morning
It comes after revelations police were set to search Mr Morgan’s home and probe his religious and political leanings, as well as his social behaviours, the paper reported.
Mr Morgan’s flatmate Luke Thornley said police had last week requested to inspect the Enfield property, in Sydney’s inner-west, and the pilot’s bedroom.
‘As far as we are aware, Gareth was fine and happy and didn’t give the impression anything was wrong,’ Mr Thornley told the paper.
Mr Morgan died along with high-profile UK businessman Richard Cousins, his two adult sons Edward and William, his fiancee Emma Bowden and her 11-year-old daughter Heather.
The crash killed experienced pilot Gareth Morgan (left), 44, and high-profile UK businessman Richard Cousins (right), 58
Victims Emma Bowden, 48, and her 11-year-old daughter Heather in front of Sydney Opera House days before the doomed 1960s single-engine DHC-2 Beaver plane plunged into the Hawksbury River
Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter Heather, 11, died in the horror seaplane crash in the Hawkesbury River
Authorities last week used a floating crane to recover the seaplane, which crashed into the river on New Year’s Eve.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is working to determine why the seaplane went down. One possibility is the plane stalled.
Aircraft maintenance engineer Michael Greenhill said that while it was not mandatory in Australia for Beaver planes to have stall warnings installed, most did.
‘A stall is when the airflow over the aircraft’s wing becomes insufficient enough to produce lift,’ Mr Greenhill said.
‘So basically the wing stops flying.’
Mr Cousins’ sons Edward, 23 (left) and William, 25 (right) were also killed when their seaplane plunged into the Hawkesbury River
Pictures show the wreckage of the Sydney Seaplane which crashed into a river on New Years Eve killing all six people on board being pulled out of the water
Emma Bowden, 48, with her daughter Heather in Sydney, days before the pair died in the crash
Investigators hope data will be recovered from the plane’s avionics instruments and any smartphones or cameras which were on board to piece together the final moments before the crash.
The Seaplane Pilots Association Australia said the aircraft involved in the crash is considered safer than other small planes because of its capacity to land on water in an emergency.
But it is believed the plane nosedived suddenly, leaving the pilot no time to make a mayday call before it plunged into the river.
This is believed to be the last photograph taken of pilot 44-year-old Gareth Morgan, 44
Wreckage of the Sydney Seaplane which crashed into a river on New Years Eve killing all six people on board has been pulled out of the water
Parts of the plane are being loaded onto a barge to be taken away
The tragic crash killed all six people on board including a British family of five
The seaplane is pictured in Sydney just hours before the tragic accident that killed six people