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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 14, 2008 17:38:28 GMT 12
Fatal plane crash in TaranakiOne dead after crop dusting plane crashes Sunday, 14 December 2008 A crop duster plane crashed, killing the pilot, on farmland above the Waitara River near Tarata in Taranaki. MIKE SCOTT/ Taranaki Daily CRASH SITE: A crop duster plane crashed, killing the pilot, on farmland above the Waitara River near Tarata in Taranaki. A top dressing pilot was killed not far from an airstrip in Taranaki today. His plane crashed in a paddock in Tarata, 19km east of Inglewood, about noon. The Taranaki Rescue helicopter was the first on scene after the crash. Pilot Rob Van Lieshout said the pilot, a man aged about in his mid-40s, was dead he arrived. The plane had crashed into the hillside not far from the airstrip. It looked as is if it had just taken off, because it was facing away from the airstrip, Mr Van Lieshout said. The plane had broken up on impact, but was pretty much in one piece with its wings still attached, he said. "It's been a pretty reasonable sort of impact, I would imagine." The the top dressing job the pilot had been on was about 3km away from the airstrip. The weather was fine and Mr Van Lieshout said he was not sure what may have caused the crash. The area was rural, made up of paddocks with moderately hilly to steep terrain. "I don't think he's hit anything and then fallen out of the sky. He's certainly come to grief with the side of the hill, that's for sure. " The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating. -NZPA 
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 14, 2008 18:13:12 GMT 12
According to our website, and what I can see from quick research, Kevin Brown is our regular Stratford pilot, flying LTC. I don't know if he was flying LTC today. I doubt I'll be able to post anything I am told at work tomorrow, so please be patient and await official statements from the company  . It will be very sober in the workshop tomorrow. I'm rather shaken at the moment. |
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Dec 14, 2008 18:49:37 GMT 12
Very sorry to hear of this, WAW seem like a really great bunch of people and this will no doubt be a horrible shock.  |
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 14, 2008 19:43:03 GMT 12
Stuff's story on the crash has been updated. "Police have named a top dressing pilot killed when his plane crashed in Taranaki today. He was 48-year-old Kevin Ross Brown from Stratford." My most heartfelt sympathies to his family, I know it will be shared by all the Wanganui base WAW crew. Blue skies, Kevin. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 14, 2008 22:24:45 GMT 12
Very sad to hear. RIP.
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Post by Fletcher400 on Dec 15, 2008 6:58:54 GMT 12
Very sad to see this news. Heartfelt symathies to his family and to WAW
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Post by stu on Dec 15, 2008 7:20:49 GMT 12
Very tragic news. My deepest condolences and sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues.
RIP.
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Post by mstokes on Dec 15, 2008 9:18:58 GMT 12
My condolences to all, family, friends and colleagues.
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 15, 2008 10:12:37 GMT 12
This is very sad, and unfortunately even with all the improvements in topdressing aircraft design safety factors, these fatal accidents do happen far too often.
My thoughts go out to the pilot's family and friends.
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 15, 2008 16:37:31 GMT 12
Our flags were at half mast today. It was a very sombre mood all around the place.
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