A Tauranga pilot is being hailed a hero after sacrificing his own life to save the lives of his three passengers - and possibly two other motorists - after his plane crashed near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, this week.
The Tauranga family of pilot Michael Wayne Sarjeant was today mourning the loss
of their 29-year-old son who died instantly when he crash-landed his Goldfields Air Service Cessna 210 into scrub just five minutes from Kalgoorlie Airport.
His father Kevin said before takeoff his son had told his passengers "don't worry, I do this every day."
Mr Sarjeant - a qualified engineer and commercial pilot who earned his wings at the Tauranga Aero Club - had spent the past two years in Australia where he was a member of the Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service.
He also worked ferrying out mining personnel from remote mines in Western Australia.
On Wednesday he had been returning to Kalgoorlie with three limestone quarry workers when it appears his plane lost power about 22km from the safety of Kalgoorlie Airport.
As the aircraft rapidly lost height Mr Sarjeant attempted to crash-land on the road but diverted the plane into nearby scrub to avoid an oncoming car.
His efforts cost him his own life but saved the two passengers in the car and the three miners in the plane.
It is understood that Mr Sarjeant reported mechanical failure in a radio call from the plane.
Mr Sarjeant's father, Kevin, said today that his son "wouldn't have thought twice" about taking evasive action.
"They're all hailing him a hero over there and fair enough too," he said.
"If he hadn't done that (crash-land in scrub) there would have been more dead bodies."
Mr Sarjeant said his son had been a popular member of the Tauranga flying community and would be sorely missed.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
