Pilot found guilty of dangerous flying after fatal crash in central Queensland

A central Queensland pilot has been found guilty of dangerously piloting a small plane that killed a British tourist.

Leslie Ronald Woodall faced a three-day trial in the Brisbane District Court this week, charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle occasioning death and grievous bodily harm.

After deliberating for less than half a day, a jury convicted him late Wednesday.

man in suit comes out of a courthouse — Leslie Woodall was sentenced Wednesday. (ABC News)

Upon hearing the verdict, some of Woodall’s supporters cried, with one saying: “Oh my God”.

During the trial, the court heard that the veteran pilot had flown three tourists, including British Jocelyn Spurway, 29, and 21-year-old Irish woman Hannah O’Dowd, from Agnes Water to Middle Island in January 2017.

Twisted wreckage of the plane on the beach at Middle Island — The plane was destroyed when it crashed on the beach. (Source: Air Transport Safety Bureau)

Just before the plane was to land on the beach, the Cessna 172N’s single engine failed and in response Woodall turned the plane to the left.

Shortly after this maneuver the aircraft rapidly lost altitude before the wing struck the sand and began to roll.

British tourist killed

Mrs Spurway was killed and Mrs O’Dowd seriously injured.

The prosecutor told the jury that the decision to operate the plane was contrary to industry training and constituted a criminal act of dangerous operation as that was the cause of the crash.

Aviation experts called as witnesses at the trial all agreed that Woodall was contrary to best practice and should have maintained control of the aircraft by keeping the wings level.

Researchers view plane wreckage on a beach. — Three people were injured in the crash, including the pilot and a 13-year-old boy. (Supplied: Lifeflight)

His defense team argued that Woodall was in a stressful situation and decided at the time that the sharp turn would be the safest option as the plane was heading for water.

In a police interview recorded and played to the jury in March 2019, Woodall told detectives: “There were very few options available to me.”

“I decided not to land in the water because it was deep, and I was concerned about the risks of drowning and the risk of bull sharks,” he said.

“I turned 80 to 90 degrees to the left trying to reach the sandbar.”

‘I did everything I could’

Woodall told investigators he lived with the pain of knowing one of his passengers had died, but “I truly believe I did everything I could to ensure the safety of those on board.”

“I know that under those circumstances I did my best… to avoid ending up in the water and risking the plane turning over,” he said.

Woodall had his bail increased and was free to leave court, but will have to return for sentencing tomorrow.