THE ultralight pilot who crashed into Lake Hume was unlicensed and his plane unregistered, aviation authorities have revealed.
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But Bob Bogaard, 60, says he was entitled to fly but was unsure of the plane’s status.
On Monday afternoon the Holbrook man was rescued from his Facet Sapphire after it crashed into the lake, about a kilometre from the shore of Ludlow’s Reserve.
Police were already on the scene after a series of frantic phone calls from holidaymakers related to low and “erratic” flying over a 20-kilometre stretch of the dam.
Some boaters had been buzzed by the ultralight, flying just metres above their heads.
Yesterday Recreational Aviation Australia chief executive Steve Tizzard said Mr Bogaard’s student pilot certificate expired more than a year ago.
He said the single-engine aircraft was unregistered.
“We issue pilot certificates so as to not confuse what the Civil Aviation Safety Authority does but his student certificate had expired and the plane was not registered,” he said.
“This alone is totally illegal under the Civil Aviation Act.
“It is the same as a person driving an unregistered car without a licence.”
The Civil Aviation Safety Australia has in the past warned ultralight pilots that flying while unlicensed and flying unregistered planes carries penalties of two years’ jail for each offence.
Mr Bogaard yesterday said his memory was scratchy on what happened on Monday but was ruing the loss of the ultralight’s instrument panel.
“As far as I understand I was entitled to fly the plane,” he said.
“But I’m more concerned with the instrument panel.
“I think it has been stolen after the crash, it was there in the water but no one knows where it has gone.”
CASA investigators have completed a mechanical inspection of the plane and are preparing to talk to witnesses.
A spokesman said a brief would be submitted to the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecution to assess whether it goes to court.
“Usually, CASA does not investigate the causes of accidents,” he said.
“But CASA does investigate potential breaches of the aviation safety legislation which, in some cases, may arise in connection with an accident.
“CASA is investigating the events and circumstances relating to the operation and subsequent crash.
“It is not appropriate at this stage to speculate on whether prosecution action will be taken.”