Mark Christie has been remembered as a family man who had a passion for adventure and learning.
A pilot who died in an ultralight aircraft crash near Darwin on Sunday has been remembered by his son as someone who valued fun, family and adventure.
Mark Christie, 63, was killed in the crash at Fogg Dam on Sunday morning.
A 29-year-old female passenger was winched from the wreckage and taken to Royal Darwin Hospital.
Mr Christie owned a recreational aircraft known as a Drifter, an open cockpit two-seater aircraft he flew as a hobby.
He ran a blog and YouTube channel, sharing videos and images from his flights.
His son, Joe Christie, said he was “a great father” and his “biggest supporter”.
Read Joe Christie’s full statement here.
“Mark Christie was many different things to many different people throughout his life: an officer, a consultant, a business owner, a public servant, an educator, a photographer, a traveller, a pilot and a friend,” he said in a statement.
“But in everything he did, he was consistently fun, aspirational, inspirational and respectful.
Mark Christie with his wife Helen and son Joe.
“What he put above all of that was being a family man.”
Joe said his father gave him “the spark of adventure” and “a thirst for knowledge”.
“In the end, I can take solace in the fact that dad passed away doing what he loved,” he said.
“For all that knew him, he lives on in us, in the fun we have, in our aspirations to do better, in our ability to inspire others and in the respect we show each other.”
Former member for Goyder Kezia Purick, who had known Mr Christie for years, described him as an experienced pilot and “a great bloke”.
“His ultralight flying was, following his family, one of his great loves,” she told
“He was a treasure, there’s no doubt about it.
She said Mr Christie was also a talented educator in science and digital technology.
“He just had such enthusiasm and the kids loved him and all his geeky things he used to get involved with,” Ms Purick said.
NT Education Department acting chief executive Tony Considine said Mr Christie was “a valued colleague and friend”.
The ultralight plane was retrieved on Tuesday.
“Mark was a passionate digital innovator who was always keen to assist school staff to support learning,” he said.
“Many colleagues in our corporate offices that knew Mark are grieving today.”
Fogg Dam remained closed to the public on Tuesday as police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
