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Post by Brett on Feb 12, 2008 7:03:00 GMT 12
Competitive paraglider dies after crashing into fence
The male paraglider who died when he crashed into an electric fence yesterday had been in a gliding competition.
Police Northern Communications spokesman Inspector Matt Sillars said the accident happened about 6.20pm yesterday on a farm in Waharoa, 7km north east of Matamata.
He said it was not clear if the pilot had died due to the fall or crashing into the electric fence.
Police said the pilot had been involved in a gliding competition being run at the Waharoa Airfield.
The man had been an experienced pilot with over 1000 hours of flying experience.
Air Crash Investigators would be examining the crash scene this morning in an effort to work out the cause of the crash.
The pilot's name will be released when next of kin are notified, police said.
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Post by stu on Feb 12, 2008 8:08:08 GMT 12
As with all fatalities, very sad. Would appear he was from Cambridge. www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491942Glider pilot dies after hitting fence post5:00AM Tuesday February 12, 2008
By Alanah May Eriksen
An experienced glider pilot competing in a national championship died yesterday after crashing into a concrete fence post in the Waikato.
The incident comes two months after a glider crash north of Wanaka that left 59-year-old German Herbert Weiss dead during the World Gliding Championships.
The latest fatal crash happened about 6.30pm on a farm in Waharoa, 7km northeast of Matamata.
New Zealand National Gliding Championships director Roy Edwards told the Herald that the man had launched his unpowered glider from Matamata Airfield on State Highway 27 about 1.30pm.
The Cambridge man had made radio contact about 6pm but lost contact soon afterwards.
A spotter plane discovered the glider in a paddock about 2km from the airfield.
Mr Edwards said it was too early to tell what went wrong but Civil Aviation Authority investigators are to look at the plane this morning.
The weather was thought to be usual "competition conditions", he said.
The competition, which started last Tuesday and is to finish on Thursday, will not run today out of respect for the pilot.
"Obviously the other competitors are saddened by the event and they need time to collect their thoughts and pay their respects," Mr Edwards said.
The pilot had been "doing okay" in the competition.
The man's family were being notified of his death last night. |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Feb 12, 2008 10:28:50 GMT 12
Glider crash victim was Waikato Uni scientist
The pilot who died when his glider crashed near Matamata yesterday was Waikato University scientist Trevor Alan Atkins, 51.
Dr Atkins' crashed glider was found by a farmer about 2km from the Waharoa Airfield. He had been competing in a national gliding championships.
His name was released today after his wife, a Niwa scientist, was told of his death. She was on the government research ship Tangaroa in the Antarctic.
Tangaroa left New Zealand a fortnight ago on an eight-week voyage to explore marine life in Antarctica's Ross Sea.
Sergeant Graham McGurk, from the Matamata police, said Dr Atkins was coming in to land at Waharoa when he decided to do another circuit.
Mr McGurk said it appeared Dr Atkins was in communication and coming in to land when for unknown reasons he changed his mind.
"He has been lost sight of visually and by radio communication."
He said Dr Atkins crashed and hit a substantial fence and probably died on impact.
Dr Atkins, who lived in Cambridge, was a Canadian professor employed by the university.
He was a very experienced pilot with more than 1000 hours of flying behind him, Mr McGurk said.
The crash was being investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority.www.stuff.co.nz/4398152a11.html
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 13, 2008 13:59:36 GMT 12
Sad indeed. I had not heard of him, but it's in the local newspaper today too.
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