Death at Newtownards

[spreckley]

A PPL was killed earlier today at Newtownards -EGAD. pilot was in his 60s. aircraft was not one of the clubs's.

[horatio_b]

Very sad news...

The aircraft was an Ikarus C42

Newtownards: Man dies in County Down airfield 'crash landing' - BBC News

[spreckley]

Pilot named

The pilot killed in the incident was Stephen McKnight from Hillsborough,. Looks like the aircraft lost power on take off and possibly stalled. Its the first death at the airfield on take off anyone can recall.

[Cows getting bigger]

Might be the first death but there's been a number of crashes. Anyway, not really the time for such a discussion.

Sympathies.

[astir 8]

The aircraft pictured in the BBC report looks relatively intact for a fatal accident.

[RUCAWO]

Not a lot left of the front of the aircraft, I have seen photos of the aircraft , not survivable IMO.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

The aircraft pictured in the BBC report looks relatively intact for a fatal accident.

Not to me it doesn't. The front end has been demolished while the cockpit backwards is relatively OK. Aircraft that stall and spin-in often suffer precisely this damage. Which is why they are fatal (usual caveats that it's early days and this may not be what happened to this aeroplane).

[Sir Niall Dementia]

Comment on the BBC site: A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire Service said the man was not trapped in the wreckage when he was found. He was the only person on board. Not unusual for seats to come loose in the impact or harnesses to break, and an impact force sufficient to do that causes huge internal injuries.