Goldfields Air Services, Reg No VH-FYZ. Crash ABH.

And the blue bottle was still there in Oct 2017.
Chris

Also it was not engine failure but ran out of fuel. The pilot was not trained properly and he did not follow procedures.
Chris

After every accident there is a hundred versions of the truth

Air crashes are thoroughly investigated so the truth is known. See here
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1993/aair/asor_199300002.aspx

Chris,
I think I can add some background information about the plaque.

I (together with five companions) visited the crash site on 23 May 1997. At the time we were doing the Ann Beadell and Gunbarrel Highways, but knew nothing about the aircraft wreck until we came across this sign beside the ABH :-

At the wreck site we found a Visitors' Book in the luggage locker in the right wing and an entry in it showed that Bill Baker (from Perth) was the first person to visit the wreck by land but, unfortunately, the date of his visit was not recorded. However, the avionics had already been removed.

Mr Baker visited the site for a second time on 19 April 1997 and, as can be seen, the engines and undercarriage had been removed by then.

Even though the crash had occurred some four years before our visit, there was still a surprising amount of personal luggage scattered around the wreck site, as well as various items of electoral material.

Like you, I also subsequently obtained a copy of the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation Report (Occurrence Brief 9300002) to find out just what had happened and, in October 1997, I spoke (by phone) to the Officer who had carried out the investigation into the accident. Attached is a copy of the note I made about that conversation and, as can be seen, it adds a bit more information about how the passengers and pilot were rescued:-
I often wondered what happened to these people in later life and it was therefore very gratifying to peruse the information set out in thread 108331 (which I had not previously seen).

I have also attached a copy of a photo of the wreck which I took on 23 May 1997 and compare it with the photos posted by Scott M (NSW) on 20 June 2014 and Stephen L (Clare SA) on 21 June 2014. Despite being in a desert, the vegetation is clearly starting to encroach on the rear of the aircraft. Unfortunately, it is also sad to see how the wreck has been vandalized since the time of my visit.

So, to answer your question, I am fairly confident that Bill Baker died in recent times and the plaque was put there by his friends to honour the work he did in making this wreck available to all Australians who take the trouble to explore these remote parts of our marvelous country.

RogerK

Chris,
This is the third photo referred to in my earlier post:- Apologies for the oversight!

Roger K

These are two photos I took on the 7th October 2017.

As you can see the souvenir hunters have been in. But then again it is 20 years later.

Thanks for your info Roger it unravels a mystery and it is now recorded for future travellers who are interested. It was good have a chat as well. All the best.

Chris

What a well put together response Roger.

Fantastic that you keep detailed records. I struggle to even get my camera out to take photos - I much prefer the memories in my head than paper, only problem is I can't share them as readily with others.

I can understand Bill (or his family) wanting to place a memorial (plaque and ashes in the bottle) at the site. It obviously had a meaning that may well only be know to him.

I have taken locks of hair (of deceased family members) out to the desert, spread ashes of family members at various sites including the ocean, Uluru and old family pastoral leases. I even took a gold tooth back to where my grandfather found the nugget he had the tooth made from. All these little ceremonies and memorials were because there was some attachment for the family members involved.

Thanks for taking the time to dig through your memories.

Cheers

Anthony

Hi Chris

And he called you the Elders Four Wheel Drive Club.....even though they are.....lol


Cheers



Stephen