Tragic flaw in ‘beautiful’ couple’s flight

Rhiley Kuhrt, 22, and his wife Maree were killed when their Piper Cherokee single-engine light aircraft crashed at the Clarke Ranges, west of Mackay in Queensland, during a storm on April 2.

Mrs Kuhrt, 24, was 27 weeks pregnant with baby Phoebe and was due to give birth in June 2023.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Tuesday declared it had stopped its investigation into the fatal light plane crash after finding Mr Kuhrt was not qualified to fly.

The couple had left Natal Downs Station heading for the Lakeside Airpark, south of the Whitsundays, to meet family when the fatal crash occurred.

When they failed to arrive at the designated time of 5pm, a large-scale aerial search was launched.

The wreckage was discovered on a steep slope at an elevation of 1913 feet on April 3, according to the ATSB investigation.

The report found Mr Kuhrt, 22, left in good weather suitable for flying, but the aircraft flew into poor weather conditions as it approached the Clarke Ranges, including low cloud.

It stated the Clarke Ranges had a topography “substantially more rugged and elevated than the coastal or inland portions of the planned route” as per Mr Kuhrt’s flight plan.

“Evidence gathered from the accident site suggested the aircraft impacted the ground intact,” the ATSB report stated.

“A review of records established the pilot did not hold an aeroplane pilot’s licence (either a recreational pilot licence or private pilot licence) required to conduct the flight.”

Investigators assessed records from the Darling Downs Aero Club, where Mr Kuhrt had trained, finding he had only completed 30.4 hours of flight instruction between November 2021 and November 2022.

This included 2.9 hours on the Piper Cherokee.

Mr Kuhrt had also only completed five hours of solo flying.

“The Civil Aviation Safety Authority have put in place regulations designed to ensure pilots are properly trained and qualified to manage challenges likely to be encountered during flying operations,” ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

“This includes training intended to teach pilots to identify and manage situations presented by adverse weather, both at the pre-flight planning phase and during flight.

“However, when pilots operate outside these rules, they remove the built-in safety defences.

“On that basis, the ATSB determined that there was limited safety benefit in continuing to direct resources at this investigation when compared with other priorities and elected to discontinue this investigation.”

Mr Mitchell said safety should be paramount for all pilots.

“This accident highlights the importance of following the standards for the operation and maintenance of aircraft to ensure the safety of flight and further demonstrates that weather continues to remain one of the most significant causes of accidents in general aviation,” he said.

“The ATSB encourages all pilots, regardless of qualification or experience level, to develop the knowledge and skills required to avoid unintentional operations into adverse weather.”

Friends have since come together to support the couple’s “grief stricken” families, after Mr Kuhrt’s sister Beccarah Markham-Gaudion launched a GoFundMe.

“On Sunday the 2nd of April, my brother Rhiley, his wife Maree, and their beautiful unborn baby girl Phoebe tragically lost their lives during a routine flight to see family,” she wrote.

“We are all absolutely heartbroken and utterly grief stricken. Three incredible lives were cut way too short.

“We would like to thank you all for your condolences, sympathies, and ongoing support during this dark time in our lives.

“We appreciate it more than you know.”

Donations of more than $27,000 was raised for the funerals the couple and their “angel baby Phoebe”.

Many posted on social media to share tributes to the “beautiful couple”.

“My heart is breaking for you and your families, just days ago we were talking about how exciting it’s going to be raising our children together,” a friend wrote.

“You were honestly a beautiful couple and deserved nothing but happiness but that got taken away from you all of a sudden,” another friend shared.

“You were going to be parents in a short amount of time. I will cherish the memories and moments we had working together last year. I love you both to the moon and back.”

Originally published as ‘Beautiful couple’: Tributes flow for Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt after Clarke Ranges flight took fatal turn