Fatal glider tow plane accident in Canterbury

[baronbeeza]

A light plane has crashed into a river and reportedly burst into flames near the Canterbury town of Springfield.

Emergency services received reports of a plane coming down near Springfield shortly after midday.

Witnesses at the scene say the aircraft crashed into a river, and burst into flames, Newstalk ZB reports.

The pilot is unaccounted for at this stage. It is not known how many people were inside the plane when it crashed.

Police, fire, and ambulance are at the scene.

tvnz.co.nz/national-news/pilot-unaccounted-after-plane-crash-in-canterbury-5803176


UPDATE......

A man is dead after a light plane crash in rural Canterbury.

The crash occurred on private property on Springfield Rd, about 64 kilometres west of Christchuch, at 12.05pm today.

St John spokesman Ian Henderson said ambulance staff attended but the male pilot was dead at the scene.

There were no other passengers on board, he said.

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9626434/Light-plane-crash

[dakman]

Not good news. an unconfirmed report states the aircraft
was owned by the Canterbury gliding club .may be a tug aircraft.

[baronbeeza]

Oh, that is indeed sad. They have a newish gliding site out in that area. It is blowing a hot NW in ChCh and has been all afternoon.

A plane that crashed and killed its pilot hit trees and burst into flames, police say.

The crash happened on private property on Springfield Rd, about 63 kilometres west of Christchurch, at 12.05pm today.

St John ambulance staff attended but the pilot, a Christchurch man in his 50s, was dead at the scene.

There were no other passengers on board.Police said the aircraft had been towing a glider and had taken off from the nearby Canterbury Gliding Club airfield.

The gilder cut away, and the aircraft turned, hit trees and burst into flames, police said.

People at the airfield witnessed the crash, and called emergency services before rushing to the scene.

The plane was completely destroyed in fire, which was put out by fire crews. The glider returned to the airfield safely.

Police are contacting relatives of the man and his name has not been released.

www.stuff.co.nz/national/9626399/Pilot-killed-in-plane-crash-in-Canterbury




EDIT *********

The pilot was Martin Lowen, 55, of Christchurch.

www.stuff.co.nz/national/9626399/Pilot-killed-in-plane-crash-in-Canterbury

I know of another Lowen with a similar sounding christian name, and about that age with an aviation background.
I don't remember meeting Martin but condolences to family and club members.

Very tragic indeed.

[baronbeeza]

static2.stuff.co.nz/1390105065/649/9626649.jpg

The gilder cut away, and the aircraft turned, hit trees and burst into flames, police said. People at the airfield witnessed the crash, and called emergency services before rushing to the scene.

The plane was completely destroyed in fire, which was put out by fire crews. The glider returned to the airfield safely.

Police are contacting the man's relatives.

Canterbury Gliding Club deputy chief flying instructor Warwick Bethwaite said Lowen was an experienced pilot. "He's been in aviation 20 plus years. He's spent a lot of hours in that particular plane," he said. It was "complete conjecture" what went wrong. His thoughts were with Lowen's family, he said.

About five men from the club ran straight across after seeing the crash. Others alerted emergency services.

"It would have been terrible, shocking. It will upset people for a long time."

"He was part of a very close-knit club. We're all going to miss him terribly."

Lowen was married with children, he said.

The plane, a PA28-236 Dakota aircraft, had been leased by the club for many years.

[FlyingKiwi]

Also unfortunately a fatal accident involving a glider at Drury this afternoon - not the best day.

[flyinkiwi]

Its been a tragic week for sure. My condolences to the victims families and friends.