Tragic last radio contact before pilots Peter Ritter, Gavin U’Ren killed in mid-air crash in WA

A helicopter pilot working on a remote cattle station was forced to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid being struck by the wreckage when two colleagues collided, a preliminary investigation has found.

Peter Ritter, 29 and Gavin U’Ren, 30, were killed when their helicopters crashed mid-air on an aerial mustering operation in Western Australia’s Kimberley region on July 25.

The two men were working for Broome-based Pearl Coast Helicopters for a planned muster at Mount Anderson Station along the Fitzroy River.

On Friday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released a preliminary report into the tragedy, finding both men were experienced pilots, were trained for aerial mustering and had no medical restrictions.

The report found their two Robinson R22 helicopters collided mid-air at a height of about 100ft shortly after taking off.

About 5.15am the four pilots involved in the planned muster held a 10 minute briefing.

Mr Ritter and Mr U’Ren departed about 6am and were making their way towards a meeting location with the other two who had taken off minutes earlier.

The two surviving pilots told the ATSB they saw the two helicopters approaching but “did not detect a risk of collision”.

Radio contact was made with the lead pilot responding “yep, I see you there”.

One pilot was forced to manoeuvre their helicopter away to avoid being struck after looking up to see one of the helicopters descending towards them.

“Wreckage examination found damage to the right side of one helicopter which was consistent with a rotor blade strike from the other, while there was no evidence of an in-flight break-up, or any loss of flight control continuity prior to the collision,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Dr Stuart Godley said.

Dr Godley said the investigation remains ongoing and will include further examination and analysis of collected evidence.

The final report is expected to be handed down in early 2025.