Pilot Senior Constable Donald Everett, 49, died when his aircraft crashed and burst into flames near Newman. Also killed were Constable Gavin Capes, Constable David Dewar and Senior Constable Philip Ruland. The crash happened while the officers were returning from Kiwirrkurra, 860km east of Newman near the Northern Territory border. The plane crashed about 9:50pm. The plane, named William G. Pense II after a police officer shot dead in Mt. Barker more than 20 years ago, was destroyed. This was the first accident involving Police Air Support in Western Australia.