Mining man, pilot killed in Aussie Day crash
ONE of the people killed in a plane crash on Perth's Swan River has been named as Peter Lynch, who had almost 30 years of experience in mining in Australia and overseas including in the Bowen and Galilee basins.
Mr Lynch, 52, was killed when the plane he was flying crashed into the Swan River during Australia Day festivities at the Perth foreshore.
His passenger was named by police as his new partner, Enda Cakrawat, 30.
Among his previous positions, Mr Lynch was managing director of Clive Palmer's Waratah Coal Inc, who yesterday issued a statement.
"Peter was well known and respected in the mining community throughout Australia and South East Asia,” it said.
"Peter commenced his career as an open cut mining engineer in 1989 at German Creek Coal Mine... He quickly advanced through the ranks and carved out a career in underground coal mining, becoming a senior mining engineer and undermanager at one of German Creek's underground mines known as Central Colliery, where he worked until 1993.”
It describes Mr Lynch as being "business savvy” and as having an "entrepreneurial spirit”.
He worked large scale underground and open cut coal projects in the Bowen Basin from 1994-2005, including at Oaky North Underground and Moorvale Open Cut.
"In 2006, Peter joined Waratah Coal Pty Ltd as Managing Director and provided Waratah with a vision to develop the Galilee Basin as a vertically integrated mine, rail and port project,” the statement reads. "His dedication to the Galilee Basin and Waratah allowed him to strike up strong enduring relationships with many state owned enterprises from China.”
It describes his "enormous enthusiasm for the business and the Galilee Basin”.
"His zest for business flowed into his personal life, where his passions for restoring cars, boating and flying, were infectious.”
The mother of Mr Lynch's three children, Laura Lynch, also lamented the loss of her former husband on Facebook.
"I am unbearably saddened to confirm that my great friend and the father of my children passed after a tragic accident,” Ms Lynch wrote.
She said a funeral date had yet to be confirmed.
West Australian Police Acting Commissioner Stephen Brown told media the investigation may take some time to confirm exactly what caused the shocking crash.
