The aerial agriculture community is mourning the loss of Rebel Ag managing director and chief pilot David Black, who died when his Dromader aircraft (VH-TZJ) crashed while engaged in aerial fire-fighting 32km west of Ulladulla in southern NSW on the morning of October 24.
The accident is being investigated by the ATSB, which noted that “an initial low-level aerial survey has been carried out to understand the disposition of the wreckage. This showed that the left wing detached in flight, which was consistent with information provided to investigators by a witness to the accident.”
Forty-three year old Black had logged around 10,000 flying hours, predominantly in aerial application, and held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, Command Instrument Rating and had been awarded a Masters in Aviation studies from the University of Newcastle. A popular and respected figure throughout the tight-knit aerial application industry (and a one-time board member of the AAAA), Black had operated in Malaysia, South Australia and NSW.
He is survived by his wife Julie and three children.
