The C.A.G.E. team starts dismantling the wreck of the Golden Quest ready for Colson's return. Taylor decides it will be many months if at all before the plane flies again, it's just about a write off, the wings are removed with an axe and the job is finished before lunch. The rest of the day is spent idly prospecting. That evening Taylor regales the men with stories of plane crashes he has seen or heard of, it's enough to turn a man off flying forever.

Coote writes to Civil Aviation from the A.I.M. Hostel regarding the crash of VH-UMR at an unnamed creek 200 miles west of Alice Springs, the optimistic journalist/pilot reckons the plane can be repaired at Illbilla in about three weeks. Doctor Kirkland returns from Loves Creek in the afternoon and finds Coote not so badly injured. As usual the nurses have done a sterling job and of course Coote doesn't mind the attention.