BELL PEAK NORTH PLANE CRASH

28 JANUARY 1970

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iniia# %i&&$'$nc$s
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"a'ici"aion/
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on$ is in no 1a) %$&inii-$/ Th$'$ 1$'$ !o'$ han hi') "$o"#$ in-o#-$% 3on h$ !ounain,
on h$ +'oun% an% in h$ ai'4 an% $ach 1i## ha-$ his2h$' o1n '$co##$cion o& 1ha ha""$n$%
an% h$ "a' $ach "#a)$%/

B$## P$a* 35576& 4 is in h$ hi+h$s "oin o& h$ .a#(on Tho!"son Ran+$, a#!os %u$ $as
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7o'%on-a#$ a'$a/


THE CRASH
The Hickling farm was on Bennett Road Aloomba. It borders the western side of the Mulgrave
River, quite close to the base of the MalbonThomson Range .

!n "ednesda# $%th of &anuar# '()* and at a++ro,imatel# (-./ +.m., Ra# and his father heard
the sound of crashing timber on the mountain. The# both agreed that +rior to the sound the# had
heard an aircraft. 0ilence followed. The night was dark but fairl# clear of cloud. The# relived the
moment in order to estimate the direction of the sound. Their best. estimate was north east of
where the# stood and high u+ on the mountain. The likel# area was Bell 1eak 2orth.

Ra# +honed the control tower at the 3airns air+ort and advised them of what the# had heard. The
dut# controller confirmed that he was e,+ecting an aircraft from the south. He immediatel# began
calling the aircraft but received no res+onse. It was obvious that the aircraft was now missing and
most likel# on Bell 1eak.

4ollowing that, +olice and ambulance +ersonnel arrived at Ra#5s house. A+art from briefing
them on what he had e,+erienced little else was achieved that night. It was quite late when he
retired. It was difficult to switch off and he doubts if he even managed one hour5s slee+.


:AY 1 THE SEARCH
At first light, 6e+artment of 3ivil Aviation officers were at the Hickling house. Meanwhile an airline
4okker 4riendshi+ aircraft which was on a scheduled flight south circled the 1eak but re+orted no
sighting. A 3essna $*7 circled the 1eak and also re+orted no sighting. However on the fifth circuit
the +ilot re+orted sighting a flash of something white but could not confirm what it was. 8ater it was
learnt that what he saw was undoubtedl# +art of the aircraft9s tail which was wedged in a tree fork.
There was minimal damage to the rainforest cano+# and the aircraft9s +ath through the vegetation
could not be seen from the air. Indeed the main wreckage could not be seen .It was likel# that the
flash of white that the +ilot had seen was +art of the missing aircraft, and the onl# wa# to be sure
was to send a ground search +art# to check it out.

This was a time before the establishment of the 0tate :mergenc# 0ervice. There were no
helico+ters based at 3airns. It was the res+onsibilit# of the +olice to organise a ground search
+art#. Ra# believes that the +art# that was assemblied at Ra# Morris9s farm at the base of the
mountain at 3am+bell 3reek on the morning of $( &anuar# consisted of three +olice officers, three
ambulance bearers, two civil defence +ersonal, a lad# news+a+er re+orter and about nine locals,
mostl# farmers including himself. A missing ingredient in the +art# was someone who had bush
walking knowledge of the mountain.

The first ;evin Murgatro#d knew of the crash was a +hone call from Alan Broughton. As Alan was
aware that ;evin had been on a 1#ramid search onl# a cou+le of weeks before for the 1olice, he
assumed that the 1olice would have been in touch with him. "hilst Alan and ;evin were talking,
;eith Howarth, the Ambulance 0u+erintendent, drove in to ;evin5s +lace and acquainted him with
the details. He was told that a +art# was at Ra# Morris5s farm and was going to the to+ via
3am+bell 3reek. ;evin knew from +ersonal e,+erience <having been some distance above the
falls on the creek= and from earlier discussions with another bushwalker that this route was
im+enetrable. ;evin informed ;eith that he would contact Alan Broughton and 1eter Bell, both of
whom had recentl# been to the to+, as a +relude to a school bushwalk, and ask them to lead a
+art# from Thomason5s farm at the foot of the +eak at Highleigh. ;eith said he would bring the
+art# in from Aloomba and both grou+s would meet at the >ordonvale 1olice 0tation.

Alan ? 1eter drove from 3airns, collected ;evin at >ordonvale and +roceeded to the >ordonvale
1olice 0tation arriving about )-@/. Here the +art# from Aloomba had reassembled. Alan s+oke to
the +olice officer in charge informing him that he, Alan, could lead the +art# to the to+ of the
mountain.
8eaving the station in a convo# of cars the +art# headed for Thomason5s farm from where the track
u+ Bell 1eak started. After a brief conversation with &im and Reta Thomason e,+laining the reason
for so man# vehicles on their +ro+ert#, the grou+ drove along a headland to where Alan and 1eter
were able to +ick the faint beginnings of the track the# had used in late '(7(. Ascent was
commenced at a++ro,imatel# %-.*am in hot sultr# conditions.
The weather conditions e,+erienced <high heat, e,treme humidit#, torrential rain, and later that
night e,treme cold = cannot be overstated, whilst the organiAation of and +re+arations b# and for
the +art# cannot be understated. There was no +re start briefing <nor an# debriefing as the various
+arties returned to Thomason5s farm from the +eak=.The +art# was far too large. 2o record of those
involved was ke+t. Toda# +artici+ants have to rel# on their memories <after fort# #ears= and the few
+hotos of that time. As Ra# remembers it there were about '% in the +art#. Toda# no rescue grou+
would be allowed with such com+lete lack of organiAation and +re+aration
. Man# of those in the +art# were com+letel# un+re+ared +h#sicall# and +rovision wise and had no
conce+t of the conditions the# would face both in terrain and humidit#. 0ome had given little or no
thought to the time that the# could be u+ on the mountain. It is felt that some thought the# were
going for a short walk in the bush. Bnfortunatel# man# in the +art# carried insufficient water and
those who did have sufficient had to share with those who didn9t. Ma#be this lack of +re+aredness
b# some was caused b# the thought that 3am+bell 3reek was abundant in good drinking water.
The change in route should have triggered a rethink in +re+aredness from those who had originall#
gathered at the end of Bennett Road,. It didn9t ha++en. 8ater in the da#, the lack of water became
a +roblem. After all it was &anuar#, quite hot and e,tremel# humid.

The +resence of the three bushwalkers, Alan Broughton, 1eter Bell, and ;evin Murgatro#d, was
vital to the success of the search. 4rom e,+erience, the# were selfsufficient in water and food.

1ersonnel from the 6e+artment of civil aviation who were based at 3airns set u+ a
communications base at Thomason9s farm, which the# referred to as Highleigh Base. &ohn
3assid#, from 63A at the 3airns air+ort was in charge. &ohn was a ver# ca+able organiser. He
was confronted with unforeseen setbacks but res+onded +rom+tl# with an alternative +lan. Also
involved from 63A was 6on Annat, another ver# ca+able organiser . Their e,+erience in search
and rescue was evident. Ins+ector Hoare from the 3airns +olice was officiall# in charge overall
&im and Reta Thomason +la#ed a maCor +art in the o+eration b# +roviding accommodation for the
control centre.

As Ra# had a flight radio o+erator5s license he was issued with a +ortable DH4 radio. There were
no mobile +hones at that time and +ortable twowa# radios were fairl# cumbersome. To conserve
the batter# he was to make contact ever# hour on the hour.

The first +art of the climb along a s+ur heading north, to about the 7** or )** ft. mark was quite
stee+. At the end of this, three of the more senior climbers, wisel# called it a da#. 4rom there to
about the halfwa# mark, the climb was quite gradual. The ridge the# were following was lightl#
timbered and fairl# o+en. Its direction headed east leading to the summit of Bell 1eak 2orth.
0ome were not as fit as others, so the +art# would sto+ +eriodicall# and have a few minutes rest
before continuing on. A bonus on this +art of the climb was the view of the valle# which could be
seen through the trees. 3omments like, EThat Aloomba +ub down there looks good right nowE, or
E0ome +eo+le actuall# go bushwalking for funE. As ;evin Murgatro#d Coked, ETo be acce+ted as a
bushwalker #ou have to undergo a +s#chiatric e,amination. If #ou fail, #ou are eligibleE. The#
were all feeling the heat and humidit# but, at this earl# stage were still in good s+irits.

The second half of the climb became quite stee+. !n the +ositive side, the# were out of light
forest and into rainforest which +rovided shade. The stee+ terrain slowed them down quite a bit,
and it was ver# hot and a storm was brewing. Their water su++lies were dwindling.

"hen the +art# was crossing a small +lateau at an a++ro,imatel# $(** feet almost at the 1eak at
about '$-.* +.m. and. four hours into the climb, someone kicked a small +iece of twisted metal.
The# had stumbled onto the wreckage. The +lane had come down across the route the +art# was
following to the to+, and the trail of wreckage could be followed a short distance to where the main
wreckage la#. The damage to the aircraft was e,tensive. "hat remained of the fuselage was
standing nose down against a tree.and it had been tom o+en revealing the entire floor. This severe
damage would have been com+ounded b# the e,it of an engine which was being carried as cargo
and was found some distance in front of the main wreckage. The sound of the crash, as Ra#
remembers it, lasted Cust a fraction of a second. It seemed inconceivable to him that so much
damage could occur in an instant. 4ortunatel#, there had been no fire.

0adl#, there were no survivors. !ne bod# was located adCacent to where he would have been
seated. The other was hidden b# tree branches. Their suitcases had broken o+en and their
+ersonal belongings were scattered about. The searchers were aware that these men had
families who were about to receive the devastating news which Ra# radioed to Highleigh Base.

Highleigh Base instructed the +art# to look for a suitable area for a helico+ter to land so as the
remains could be airlifted out..

The +art# had not been informed of an# designated leader, but all interacted coo+erativel#, a
tribute to those volunteers who were involved in an e,tremel# un+leasant e,+erience under
e,tremel# debilitating conditions.

8ooking back, Ra#, <and Alan, 1eter, and ;evin wholeheartedl# concur with him= was never sure
who was in charge of the +art#. There was little b# wa# of +research briefing. It was assumed
the +olice were in charge, and officiall# the# were. However the senior officer in the +art# was
one of those who quit at the first sto+. The two remaining officers, 2eil Bradford and Barr# 6own,
whilst the# did their dut#, at no stage took a commanding role. In realit#, leaders in their
individual fields emerged without a++ointment. Alan Broughton and 1eter Bell led the team u+
the ridge where the# stumbled onto the crash site. Because Ra# o+erated the twowa# radio, he
found himself advising the grou+ of what the# were to do ne,t, rela#ing instructions from
Highleigh. "hen the bodies were located, the +olice officers and Bob "allace, an ambulance
bearer, and 4rank 0teene,an au,iliar# ambulance bearer5 who were well e,+erienced with
accident scenes, again without a++ointment, took charge of covering the bodies using the
u+holster# lining from the aircraft cabin. 3overing bodies is a +riorit# task at all accident sites.
:ach bod# was stra++ed to a +ole which was cut long enough to allow two men at either end to
enable them to be carried in the stee+ terrain.

Because of the lack of authorit#, the rest of the +art# was milling around, not knowing what to do
but watch and wanting direction. !ne of the +rinci+als in the search issued an FinstructionG for all
those not directl# occu+ied to +roceed to the to+ to start building a helico+ter +ad. Being given
something to do, the# set off.

There was no suitabl# level and lightl# timbered area at the crash site so the best o+tion was
the summit which was lightl# timbered although it had a rock# surface and landing there, in the
+art#5s view, was out of the question. The summit was a ver# narrow rock# ridge with stee+
terrain either side. 3learing the vegetation there would be relativel# eas# although the# had onl#
half a,es and machetes. The +ro+osed clearing would have fairl# o+en access from the south
the natural a++roach +lan for a helico+ter.

..After the victims had been attended to and removed from the crash site, the members of the
search +art# became concerned with their own needs. The climb u+ the mountain had been hot
and e,hausting. B# earl# afternoon the small amount of water carried had been almost all
consumed and more was urgentl# needed. The +art# was to receive its water from heaven, not
from rain, but from car tubes.

Aviation 6e+artment +ersonnel had worked out a solution to the +roblem. The# had car tubes filled
with water and loaded them into a 3essna aircraft that had the right hand seat and door removed.
The tubes were to be thrown from the +lane as it +assed over Bell 1eak. The first cou+le of tubes
ended in the rainforest a considerable distance awa# down the stee+ slo+e. As the +ilot couldn9t
see the +art# among the trees, Ra# had to guide him b# radio, using sim+le instructions like GleftG,
FrightG, Fhold itG Fdro+G etc. Alan volunteered to climb a tree to get a better view of the a++roaching
+lane and give Ra# instructions to rela# to the +ilot. "hen it was thought the +lane was in the right
+osition and the right distance, he would sa# dro+ and the +ilot5s assistant would roll the tube out.
!n the ground the shout would go out FHere the# come againHG and all had to take shelter behind
the northern side of the trees. It was quite a sight to see these tubes come hurtling down towards
them. It was a bit like aerial coits.. Alan5s rela#ing to Ra# was quite successful as the# were able to
retrieve man# of the tubes that did not ru+ture on im+act. Alan did have a scare when he saw a
tube hurling directl# towards him, getting larger b# the second onl# to crash at the base of the tree
he was in. He took a more defensive +osition after that. The target area on the summit was quite
narrow.. 4rom then on the +ilot became fairl# skilled and most tubes were dro++ing almost at their
feet. 0ome burst on im+act but some remained intact, and the +art# was able to save some water..
It was foul to drink and the grou+ didn9t know which was worse drinking the 6unlo+ water, the
>ood#ear water, or d#ing of thirst. The# figured, Burke and "ills would have relished it, so the#
drank it.

8ater that da# Highleigh base advised that the Bell helico+ter which was on its wa# from Ingham
would not be available to lift the bodies out that da#

0everal of the +art# decided that because their task <locating the aircraft= was com+leted there
was nothing left for them to do, the# were not equi++ed for a night on the +eak, had not intended
to sta# ,or were concerned about their families decided to return to base. Barr# 6own led them
off but the# were back within threequarters of an hour. The# became lost and returned aided b#
the sound of cho++ing. Alan Broughton volunteered them to lead them safel# off the mountain.
As the# were nearing the end of their descent the storm broke, and the# came off the mountain
as it was getting dark tired, wet, hungr# and bedraggled.

Achieving what the# did in one da# was no mean feat/

Those remaining on the to+ decided to establish cam+ at a small, rock free area about midwa#
between the crash site and the summit. The# built a modest leanto featuring a FthatchedG roof
made of leaf# branches. It was small but did offer a small degree of +rotection. The# named the
structure Bell 1eak Motel. The ground was slo+ing and dam+. It was a long night. The same
ferocious storm that the de+arting +art# travelled through hit the cam+ers. In contrast to the
stiffling heat and humidit# during that da#, the# were now wet and freeAing. There was one smoker
amongst them so the# were able to get a fire going and with great difficult# kee+ it going, but there
was more smoke than flames. 3limbing u+ the mountain in the da# the# were saturated with
+ers+iration, cam+ing at the to+ during the night the# were saturated with rain. 0lee+ was
im+ossible and the time was s+ent telling #arns and env#ing the +eo+le below in their beds. It was
a miserable night.


:AY 2 ; <A0T0N7
The dawn was the calm after the storm. A bright clear sk#. 8ooking south from the summit the
searchers were looking wa# down the Mulgrave valle#, to the west the mountains of the
Tableland, to the north right u+ the coast, and to the east , as one of the +art# said, GIf the earth
were flat we would be able to see 0outh AmericaG. Ra# wa,es l#rical in his account of the morning.
F"hen da#light came the view from our clearing on the summit was s+ectacular. The storm had
+assed. Mist# remnants of the storm were lifting. The cane fields in the valle# contrasted against
the lush rainforest of the mountains. The rugged rainforest covered mountains a++eared far more
e,+ansive than the seemingl# narrow stri+ of farming land in the valle#. To the east the sea and
the sk# blended together making the horiAon difficult to define. The 4ranklin Islands a++eared to
be sus+ended in the sk#. I have flown down the valle# man# times and never tired of the maCestic
view of the valle# and mountains that is a +rivilege to e,+erience. However, the view from the Bell
1eak summit on this earl# morning, following the storm, sur+assed an#thing I had +reviousl#
e,+eriencedG.

As the +lane had been located on the first da#, now the o+eration involved removing the bodies
and a crash investigation being conducted b# the 6e+artment of 3ivil Aviation.

As It was obvious that nothing was going to be achieved on 4rida#, as there was no suitable
helico+ter available to remove the bodies and the crash site e,aminers would not be available
until the ne,t da#, it was decided that si, of the remaining +art# should return to Highleigh led b#
1eter Bell, leaving 2eil Bradford, Ra# Hickling, and ;evin Murgatro#d at the to+. "hen 1eter was
off the mountain and before returning to 3airns, he checked with Alan Broughton and brought him
u+ to date with the events since Alan had led the first +art# out the +revious afternoon.. Alan also
had received a call from the 6e+artment of 3ivil Aviation enquiring if he would guide the crash
investigation team of four members led b# Ted Tovell to the crash site on the 0aturda# morning.

Meanwhile the three at the +eak carried out Fconsolidation dutiesG at the cam+ site and the
clearing at the to+. Mostl# what the# did was to wait for a Bell helico+ter which was on its wa#
from Ingham.

A Bell 3H @) helico+ter was the onl# one available within reasonable fl#ing distance, It is quite
basic b# toda#9s standards. The summit is ..)* ft.. and the +erformance of the Bell at this altitude
is not im+ressive

Then Ra#, 2eil and ;evin were advised that the helico+ter was on its wa#. Ideall#, a helico+ter
needs to maintain forward s+eed while ascending. The# watched as it headed south down the
valle# then make a '%* degree turn, then track straight back towards them. The# lit a small smoke
fire to indicate to the +ilot the wind direction and s+eed. The +ilot and his assistant dro++ed water
in +lastic bottles as well as food. 0ome of the +lastic bottles broke but the qualit# of the water was
a welcome change from the 6unlo+ and >ood#ear water delivered the +revious da#. The# also
lowered a chainsaw on a ro+e. The +ilot was not +re+ared to come too low given the borderline
+erformance of this aircraft. However, a more e,+erienced +ilot was on his wa# from 0#dne# via
the airlines.

The food that was sent was +re+ared b# local farmers wives. As the# later learnt, the# were Reta
Thomason whose home was the Highleigh base, the late 8ou Angelino and Ra#5s wife Marion.
Among the su++lies received was a carefull# +acked bottle of rum. It had a note, E"ith the
com+liments of a local farmerE. That night in cam+, the# shared the rum declaring to a man, that
the farmer who sent it was indeed a gentleman among gentlemen. Ra# later learnt that his wife
Marion had sent it. It was his bottle of rum. The airdro+ also included bottles of eucal#+tus oil and
long clear +lastic bags.

6uring that afternoon the first FsightseersG arrived to have a look at the crash, two local farmers.
The# made the tri+ easier than the +art# had the da# before I the# were #ounger and fitter than
most of the original +art#, and the conditions on 4rida#, whilst still ver# tro+ical, were much more
tolerable than on the da# before.

The ne,t event of that da# had ;evin wondering about the thought +rocessors of officialdom A
+art# of si, +olice officers arrived at the to+ late afternoon.. 4or what +ur+ose no one seemed to
know. 4ive were so out of condition that when the# reached the to+ the# colla+sed and were not
ca+able of doing an#thing.. The# were still wearing their uniforms which were not designed for
tro+ical conditions, let alone mountain climbing. !ne was still wearing his motor c#cle leggings.
;evin claimed that the sergeant in charge of the 3airns +olice station went through that station
looking for FvolunteersG and the onl# ones he caught were those too slow to get out of his wa#.

The si,th, Arthur 8#nch, was an asset to the final stages of the o+eration. He was a one time
timber cutter and a successful com+etition a,eman. "hen he first viewed the result of the search
+art#5s
skills as a,emen in making the clearing, he commented FThose trees died hardG. He was
certainl# the right choice to send on this mission.

The second night FBell 1eak MotelG was crowded again. 2o storm this night, but a cou+le light
showers, light com+ared with the night before. 0ome of the +olice officers climbed into the large
+lastic bags to kee+ dr#. ;evin enquired what was the +ur+ose of these bags, and was told that
the# were bod# bags and someone <Arthur 8#nchJ= added the# each time the# were used the#
were washed and reused. The# were ra+id e,its b# those in the bags.

The second night had 2eil, ;evin and Ra# more in a listening mode than +artici+ating in the
conversations.. The# were e,hausted, having had little slee+ since the morning before, in
Ra#5s case the "ednesda# night when he heard +lane crash. It is sur+rising how long the
human bod# can go without slee+ if necessar#. Because of the wet ground, showers, and
the generall# miserable conditions, there was ver# little slee+ for them again on 4rida#
night.


:AY 5 THE RETR0E=AL

The second dawn over Bell 1eak was again s+ectacular, but not as s+ectacular as the +revious
one. This was to be the final da# of the search and retrieval o+eration that had commenced on the
Thursda# morning. Those on the to+ knew that the helico+ter was read# with a more e,+erienced
+ilot and also on the wa# u+ the mountain was the 6e+artment of 3ivil Aviation crash investigation
team, guided b# Alan Broughton.
.
The Bell helico+ter was fitted with a s+ecial hook to which was attached a cargo net. This hook
was controlled b# a mechanism which allowed the +ilot to release the load . The +lan was that the
re+lacement +ilot would deliver the net containing equi+ment that would be used b# the safet#
investigation team <instruments and other material for investigating the cause of the crash,
cam+ing gear and +ersonal items= leave the net and then return when the bodies were +laced in it
and take them to Highleigh base. The +ilot radioed Ra# with instructions on the use of sim+le arm
movements to guide the aircraft over the ridge and to indicate his height above the ground.

The flight +lan was to be the same as on the +revious da# I fl# south along the foot hills of the
Malbon Thom+son Range, do a '%*
*
turn then climb diagonall# north over the 3am+bell 3reek
4alls catchment to the summit of 2orth Bell 1eak.

Those on the to+ were watching e,+ectantl# as this was to be the end of their sta#, but their
e,+ectations were short lived. About two miles from them the cargo net fell from the aircraft. Ra#
radioed the +ilot with the bad news. This was a maCor setback. The +ilot was adamant that he did
not touch the release button, so this meant that the holding and release mechanism was not
reliable. Accidentall# dro++ing the bodies somewhere in the rainforest was unthinkable, the#
would never be found again. That hook had to be re+aired and thoroughl# checked.

The helico+ter returned to Highleigh base where the re+airs were carried out then did several runs
u+ and down the Mulgrave Dalle# carr#ing a @@ gal. drum full of water to test it. The re+airs were
successful.

In its ne,t attem+t on the rescue the helico+ter was guided b# Ra# over the ver# modest
clearing onto which the +ilot dro++ed a cargo net and +rom+tl# left . The bodies were then
+laced in the net..

"hen the bodies were securel# +acked, there was no need for the +olice <e,ce+ting for
Arthur 8#nch= who had arrived the +revious afternoon, 2eil Bradford and ;evin Murgatro#d to
remain on the summit. The# left to return to Highleigh led b# ;evin.

!n their descent the# met the 63A team led b# Alan coming u+. ;evin envied Alan5s clean
clothes, shaven face but mostl# his clean, dr# socks. He and 2eil were still in the clothes that
the# had dressed in on Thursda# morning, the onl# concession to civiliAation the# had had
was the soa+less showering in the rain.

;evin and 2eil informed the u+ward bound +art# of the loss of all their gear and then
continued on. to Thomason5s farm As the# were nearing the foot of the mountain the
helico+ter with the bodies underneath flew over. This time the o+eration was a success.

At the foot of the mountain, in the midda# tro+ical heat, this +art# was met b# a +olice
sergeant who offered them, not cold water, but warm mangoes that he had +icked u+ off the
ground at Thomason5s farm. The# were driven to the farm, then left Highleigh base to return to
>ordonvale to their families.

2eil ? ;evin5s arrival at the base marked the end of the search and retrieval e,+edition that
had started Thursda# morning. The wreckage had been found and the bodies had been
retrieved. Those still on the mountain were now involved in the crash investigation.

It must be remembered that, with the e,ce+tion of a few who were on official dut#, the
members of the search and rescue +art# which had left on Thursda# were all volunteers who
undertook the arduous e,+edition for +ure altruism. It sa#s something for the calibre of these
+ersons that counselling was not considered at that time and all went on with their ever#da#
lives with no +ost traumatic stress from their ordeal.

As far as known, there is no official record an#where of who +artici+ated. The closest is the
list +re+ared b# Ra# found at the conclusion of this account.

Th$ n$> s$cion %$a#s 1ih h$ c'ash in-$si+aion a&$' h$ s$a'ch an% '$scu$
o"$'aion an% is +i-$n in h$ &i's "$'son accouns o& A#an an% Ra)/

A8A2
!n Thursda# afternoon about half of the rescue +art# decided to walk down the mountain as their
services were no longer required and cam+ing resources at the crash site were none,istent. This
+art# of about nine +ersons moved off and after a while returned, having missed the track further
down the mountain and asked for guide. I was asked to lead them down which I did, and we
arrived at the base of the mountain in a thunder storm, soaking wet.

I went to school on 4rida# and met u+ again with 1eter Bell in the afternoon. 1eter had brought
down most of the +art# who had sta#ed on Thursda# night. I also received a +hone call from
963A to see if I would guide the crash investigation +art# of four members led b# Ted Tovell to
the crash site on 0aturda# morning,. To make it easier for the crash investigators, as the# were
no longer #oung men, 63A arranged for the helico+ter to carr# the +art#9s +ersonal gear and the
investigators5 equi+ment to the clearing on the to+ of the mountain.

At about midmorning we met ;evin Murgatro#d, 2eil Bradford and five of the +olice +art# coming
down. The si, member +olice +art# headed b# Arthur 8#nch had been sent u+ the mountain on
4rida# to create a clearing for the helico+ter. ;ev then informed us that earlier in the morning he
watched the helico+ter on its first tri+ to the clearing on the to+ of the mountain lose its load over
the 3am+bell 3reek catchment. All of our gear which was in a cargo net attached to the underside
of the helico+ter had disa++eared into the treeto+s due to a fault# release mechanism. The
release mechanism had to be checked and tested and it was later in the da# before the helico+ter
returned to the clearing with additional tools collected b# 63A and the two bodies were safel#
removed off the mountain. 9

6uring the rest of the da#, the crash investigators removed com+onents from the instrument
+anel, measured the dis+ersal of the crash debris, ins+ected the engines for fuel and oil
blockages and mechanical failure as far as +ossible <a sledge hammer was used to crack
o+en the crankcases= and located the s+are engine, carried as cargo, about /* #ards
be#ond the crash site. 0even +eo+le s+ent 0aturda# night on the mountain.

B# this time, accommodation at the to+ was a little bit more advanced than it had been on
Thursda# and 4rida# nights with Tom<J= Machan in charge of the cam+ and acting as
cook.

!n 0unda# morning, the site investigations were com+leted and the helico+ter collected the final
load of +lane instruments, tools and cam+ing equi+ment that had been used during the bod#
recover# +rocess. At about midda# we all bade farewell to Bell 1eak 2orth and the sombre crash
site that had held our attention over the last four da#s and returned to the foot of the mountain
where we were received b# the waiting 63A officials.

About si, weeks later, I was reimbursed for the loss of m# +ersonal equi+ment due to the
helico+ter misha+.

RAK
After the bodies had been +laced in the net, I radioed the +ilot to return. I guided him in once
more over the clearing. Arthur who was crouched alongside the net made the hook u+. I
signalled the +ilot to lift. "hen the load was clear of the ground I raised both arms above m#
head with m# thumbs u+. He descended the mountainside straight towards Highleigh Base.
"e all watched an,iousl# ho+ing that the hook held. "hen he was clear of the mountain l
heaved. a sigh of relief.

0oon after the bodies had been lifted,. ;evin, 2eil, the +olice and I were about to leave when I
received a radio message from the +ilot requesting that m#self and Arthur 8#nch remain for
another da# to lift out some of the aircraft com+onents as +art of the investigation.

2ot long after that the air safet# investigators arrived on the summit. The# were led u+ the
mountain b# Alan Broughton. Ted Tovell, a "orld "ar II +ilot and e, airline +ilot was in charge of
the investigation. He had with him two engineers and a worker from the 3airns air+ort. As I
remember the worker5s name was Tom Machan. I suggested to Ted that he had far more
e,+erience and would be more com+etent.to direct the helico+ter. His re+l# was EThat ma# be
true but the +ilot has confidence in #ou and that means a lot to him in this situation.E He added
FAn#thing that lessens the chance of a second aircraft l#ing on this mountain is worth +ursuing. I
also would be grateful if #ou sta#ed on, but I certainl# don9t e,+ect #ou to, #ou9ve been u+ here
long enough.E I agreed to sta#. I settled in for a third night. Ted had a wealth of aeronautical
e,+erience behind him. He was a ver# interesting +erson to converse with. B# this time we had a
tent fl#, some inflatable +illows and fresh clothes. I think that I even managed to get some slee+.

!n the fourth da# I hel+ed the investigation team find com+onents which ma# have been hel+ful in
their investigation "hen the# had assembled all that the# required, I radioed the +ilot to bring the
cargo net.. and we re+eated the +revious da#9s +rocedure. It went off smoothl#. After the
com+onents were safel# off the mountain, m# Cob, Arthur9s and the investigation team5s was
finished. "e bid farewell to Bell 1eak 2orth and headed off down the mountain together.

At the base the ever reliable &ohn 3assid# was waiting with a vehicle to +ick us u+. I must have
smelt terrible. 4our da#s in the summer heat and no shower e,ce+t for the storm rain on the first
night. It was the first da# of 4ebruar# which was our twelfth wedding anniversar#. I made it home in
time to s+ruce u+ and take m# beautiful wife out to dinner. "hat a contrastH I enCo#ed that.

A cou+le of weeks after the search, I had a visit from 63A auditors who wanted to ascertain the
likelihood of finding the cargo net and its contents. I took them to a +lace where the# could view
the area on the mountain where I believe the net and its contents ma# be. The# agreed the
chance of finding it was ver# slim. The# officiall# wrote it off. I don9t think it has ever been found

0ometime later I had a visit from +ersonnel from the 6e+artment of 3ivil Aviation. The# thanked me
for m# +artici+ation in the search and in +articular, as the# described it, m# accurate estimate of
where the wreckage la#. As the# +ut it, m# accurate information saved a long and e,+ensive
search.
The# then assisted me with com+osing a statement in res+ect to this accident, which the#
requested from me, 0hortl# after that, the >ordonvale +olice requested a statement from me also.
"ith their assistance I wrote that one at the >ordonvale +olice station.H think 2eil Bradford ma#
have assisted me with that.

PERSONNEL 0N=OL=E: 0N THE BELL PEAK SEARCH ? RESCUE

Thos$ in h$ iniia# c#i!( o h$
su!!i

7o'%on-a#$ Po#ic$ Barr# 6own
2eil Bradford

7o'%on-a#$ A!(u#anc$ Bob "allace
4rank 0tein

7o'%on-a#$ Ci-i# :$&$nc$ ;eith "alker
Ted Hughes

@a'!$'s Bob Anderson
&ack Morris
Rodne# Morris
:melio <>ell#= Angelino
&ohn M#rteAa
Robbie &ohnston
Ra# Hickling

T'ac*$' Bud# "aria

Bush <a#*$'s Alan Broughton
1eter Bell
;evin Murgatro#d

R$"o'$' &oan 0tarr

The +ilot who flew the 3essna $*7 in the initial search of the +eak and later that da# with the
car tube dro+ was Bush 1ilots chief +ilot 3olin 0heddon.

The names of the two helico+ter +ilots are unknown at the time of writing this re+ort.

The names of the five +olice officers who accom+anied Arthur 8#nch are also unknown at this
time.

And of course Ji! an% R$a Tho!ason have to be included for making their farm available to be
used as the Highleigh base and for their su++ort to all +ersonnel during the whole o+eration.