Community mourns pilot killed in Parafield Airport plane collision

An experienced pilot who was killed as two planes collided at an airport north of Adelaide is being mourned by family and friends.

Richard Woods, a pilot and aircraft engineer, was reportedly working outside his Cessna plane on the tarmac at Parafield Airport when it moved forward and struck him.

Mr Woods died at the scene.

The 62-year-old from Wattle Park has been described by his family as an “exemplary man and very loved within the family and the greater community.”

A colleague of Mr Woods said he was a “top bloke” who was “very experienced”.

An investigation into the cause of the tragedy is underway.

Police have confirmed that an empty plane taxied away after hitting the pilot then crashed into another unoccupied plane parked nearby.

Emergency crews were called to the airport shortly after 4pm yesterday.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman said it is believed someone was trying to start the aircraft which taxied away.

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