FRIENDS have remembered Kris Barr as a terrific bloke who would give his time to help anyone.
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Mr Barr, 42, died when his Cessna 182L light aircraft crashed into a field at Burrumbuttock on Sunday.
Witnesses said the father-of-two’s plane was flying low with engine problems and investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the aircraft had been flying low, struck a power line and landed upside down.
Several people, including Kaye Evans, said Mr Barr may have veered to avoid homes and the Farmers Inn Hotel near the site.
Justin Burns said he had been due to fly with his friend of 20 years on Sunday, but didn’t.
“He was a terrific man, he’d help anyone out,” Mr Burns said.
“If anyone was in trouble he’d be on your doorstep.
“It’s going to be a loss to Jindera and Albury as a whole.
“We’d go for a bit of a fly around in separate planes every Sunday and I was going to go with him on the night, but luckily I didn’t.”
Justin’s father Les Burns said Mr Barr was a lovely person.
“I feel very sorry for his family,” he said.
Mr Barr ran an engineering business at the Jindera Industrial Estate and was highly respected within the industry.
He started the business after moving from Tasmania about 20 years ago.
Friend Steve Death said Mr Barr had been flying for 15 years.
“He was a very capable pilot,” Mr Death said.
“He was a really good fella, I couldn’t fault him.
“We’re very sad for his friends and family.
“His family are distraught.”
Mr Barr was married to wife, Toni, and they had two teenage daughters, Samantha and Nikki.
Those close to the late pilot gathered yesterday at his Burrumbuttock property, which has its own landing strip.
Ken Hall was at the Farmers Inn when the accident occurred.
Mr Hall was one of about 20 people who rushed to help Mr Barr after the crash, but he was dead when they arrived.
“Wherever he’s gone, people like him,” Mr Hall said.
Resident Norm, who did not provide his last name, said a lot of people had been left shaken by the loss.
“Everyone is in shock,” he said.
“He was a top bloke and a good family man.
“It’s a big loss to the town.”