Tributes flow for Exmouth couple Malcolm ‘Mal’ Watt and Samantha Nuttall killed in microlight plane crash

A couple killed in a microlight plane crash in Exmouth have been remembered as “two of the nicest people you will ever meet”, with tributes for the avid adventurers pouring in from across Australia days after their untimely deaths. Malcolm “Mal” Watt and Samantha Nuttall were known within the small North West community of Exmouth as the “adventurous power couple” who “did everything together”. Their tragic deaths have left behind a gaping hole in the tight-knit town, with those closest to the pair still desperately unsure how to come to terms with the shocking news. “They were the type of people that would do anything for anyone,” friend Jackie Brookes told The West. “They were a dearly loved couple. He (Mr Watt) was an excellent pilot, highly regarded and professional; Sam was very well-loved and adored — she was the life of the party with an infectious laugh.” The pair first met in their hometown of Melbourne in 1994, when Anthony Moore — a close high-school friend of Mr Watt — introduced them. “They were thick as thieves and hit it off straight away — a power couple who enjoyed life to the fullest,” he said. “They were incredibly generous. There is a large community in Melbourne that are mourning and grieving.” A talented baseballer and cricketer, Mr Watt’s passing and that of Ms Nuttall’s has left the Melbourne baseball community reeling. “They were quite a force to be reckoned with here,” a representative of Heathmont Baseball Club — where Mr Watt, 51, played for 19 seasons — said. “This awful news has ripped right through the baseball community here in Melbourne.” Still too emotional to speak more than 48 hours after his death, five former teammates of Mr Watt passed on their insurmountable grief through the club representative. “They were very good people. That’s the common theme,” she said. “A bucket-load of fun on and off the field. They lived life to the extreme. Mr Watt was known as a friend to everyone — the ultimate clubman and mate.” Mr Watt, who played 311 games during his time in the Melbourne Winter Baseball League, helped lead his club to a number of premierships early on. “He loved baseball, and he really loved to have fun,” the representative said. Mr Moore described Mr Watt as a really gifted junior baseballer and a “demon quick fast bowler”. “He was the one guy you could always count on,” he said. “Even though I hadn’t seen him for a decade, you just knew you could call him and pick up where you left off.” Mr Watt and Ms Nuttall, 50, left Melbourne for Exmouth 25 years ago and immediately fell in love with the coastal lifestyle and all it had to offer. “They quickly established themselves in the community,” Mr Moore said. Ms Brookes said “they were two of the nicest people you will ever meet”. “Anything adventurous they were into,” she said. Tributes have poured in from across WA and interstate since their passing. Family member Chris Watt said they were “all still in a state of shock and disbelief”. Colin Waddell remembered Mr Watt as always being “good for a laugh”, while Steve Kitto described him and Ms Nuttall as a “great adventurous pair” who were taken way too soon. The pair were killed on Wednesday when the microlight air plane Mr Watt was flying crashed in Shothole Canyon, a few kilometres from Exmouth Aerodrome — where it originally took off. The long-term residents were reported missing to police about 4.30pm after failing to return from their joy flight, and their bodies were sadly located by two hours later. Mr Watt was an avid flyer and became an apprentice flight instructor for Birdseye View Ningaloo tours in December 2015. Samantha Nuttall worked at the Mitre 10 hardware store and helped out local businesses as a bookkeeper. On their website, Birdseye View Ningaloo describes the microlight as “one of the world’s safest aircraft”. Paul Mollison, a member of the management team at microlight aircraft designer Airborne — and who has been in the industry for 30 years — said microlights were no more dangerous as other planes. “But their safety is dependent on the level of training and skill of the pilot and the weather conditions you’re flying in, which greatly affect microlights,” he said. “People have to recognise the weather risks when flying microlights. They’re as safe as any other plane, depending on the wind. “You’re also staying up in the air by virtue of the motor, so you’re technically supposed to stay close to land on which you could safely land in case the motor stops.” If a microlight’s motor stops mid-flight, Mr Mollison said there was still time to get to the ground safely. “It’s not like a helicopter. It will descend at about 150m per minute,” he said. While most pilots carry radios on board their microlights, others also bring with them a parachute and a life jacket. In Australia, microlights have a maximum capacity of two people. They can travel a maximum of 450km to 500km at one time, however, if they are travelling against the wind, this distance can decrease significantly.