Post by vgp on Jul 15, 2008 10:44:09 GMT 12
Turning glider struck terrain
The Regions: North Otago | Your Town: Oamaru
Owen TrueloveA retired Royal Air Force air commodore and his son were killed when the right wing of their glider struck terrain during a reversal turn away from a ridge and the glider was destroyed, the Oamaru Coroners Court heard yesterday.
Coroner George Berry found Owen James Truelove (69), of Cornwall, England, and James Christopher Scott Truelove (37), of Queenstown, both died from severe massive trauma on the northern slopes of Mt Prospect in the Lindis Pass on November 15, 2006.
Constable Les Andrew said Owen Truelove was the pilot of the glider which was competing in the South Island regional championships, based at Omarama.
He and his son took off at 3.08pm on November 15.
Const Andrew was informed that night that a glider participating in the championships was overdue and, because of darkness, it was decided to start searching the next day.
That afternoon, the wreckage was located on the northern face of Mt Prospect.
The crash was investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority and a detailed report provided.
That report stated no defect was found in the glider that could have contributed to the crash.
Mr Truelove was an experienced pilot with a total of 1130 flying hours.
In September 2004, he flew the powered glider from Cornwall to New Zealand.
He was president of the Omarama Gliding Club and flew regularly in the region.
While he did not have a wealth of knowledge of gliding in New Zealand, he was far from a complete novice.
The report said a recommendation was made to Gliding New Zealand that it encourage gliding clubs to mentor visiting pilots and pilots with limited experience on gliding in the Southern Alps during a contest environment.
Mr Berry said it was a familiar type of aircraft accident - flying up a valley and not having the room to turn and get out.
Gliding in the Southern Alps did carry risk, he said.
No recommendations were required from him and the recommendation for mentoring was noted, he said.
The search for the glider was done in very difficult flying conditions and he expressed the court's appreciation for the efforts made to locate it.
www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/13247/turning-glider-struck-terrain
The Regions: North Otago | Your Town: Oamaru
Owen TrueloveA retired Royal Air Force air commodore and his son were killed when the right wing of their glider struck terrain during a reversal turn away from a ridge and the glider was destroyed, the Oamaru Coroners Court heard yesterday.
Coroner George Berry found Owen James Truelove (69), of Cornwall, England, and James Christopher Scott Truelove (37), of Queenstown, both died from severe massive trauma on the northern slopes of Mt Prospect in the Lindis Pass on November 15, 2006.
Constable Les Andrew said Owen Truelove was the pilot of the glider which was competing in the South Island regional championships, based at Omarama.
He and his son took off at 3.08pm on November 15.
Const Andrew was informed that night that a glider participating in the championships was overdue and, because of darkness, it was decided to start searching the next day.
That afternoon, the wreckage was located on the northern face of Mt Prospect.
The crash was investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority and a detailed report provided.
That report stated no defect was found in the glider that could have contributed to the crash.
Mr Truelove was an experienced pilot with a total of 1130 flying hours.
In September 2004, he flew the powered glider from Cornwall to New Zealand.
He was president of the Omarama Gliding Club and flew regularly in the region.
While he did not have a wealth of knowledge of gliding in New Zealand, he was far from a complete novice.
The report said a recommendation was made to Gliding New Zealand that it encourage gliding clubs to mentor visiting pilots and pilots with limited experience on gliding in the Southern Alps during a contest environment.
Mr Berry said it was a familiar type of aircraft accident - flying up a valley and not having the room to turn and get out.
Gliding in the Southern Alps did carry risk, he said.
No recommendations were required from him and the recommendation for mentoring was noted, he said.
The search for the glider was done in very difficult flying conditions and he expressed the court's appreciation for the efforts made to locate it.
www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/13247/turning-glider-struck-terrain
