The police report is comprehensive. It takes a bit of perseverance to wade through. No surprise, it is amateurish alongside what is expected from experts, here or overseas. It contains much detail, including numerous references of a highly speculative nature, impossible to connect conclusively to what led to the deaths of the two men killed.
At times it also shows poor proof reading, as when Nigel Arnott’s name is confused with that of Hempel.
Page 103 of the report –
“As stated on 13th September 2010, witness Nigel Hempel who has personal experience of flicker vertigo, was of the opinion that this would not be the case on 31st August 2008 as Hempel was flying at a time when the sun was too high.”
The 165 page report by Senior Constable GK Anderson of the Queensland Police Forensic Crash Unit concludes, in part –
“The direct cause of this crash, such as a confirmed health issue or a catastrophic engine failure, has not been identified in this investigation.”
“Regardless of whatever the direct cause to the crash, Hempel was aware of safety standards and the ability required to minimise the risks associated with flying/aerobatics and people on the ground.”
“I believe it reasonable to assume that on this occasion, Hempel knew he had a significantly higher risk of crashing and to that end, behaved in a negligent and unprofessional manner.”
This is a non-sequitur, basically illogical.
Here’s hoping the coroner will come down with something more compelling, less patently unknowing of FIGJAM psychology, even if he has to return an open finding.
Last edited by Fantome; 27th Oct 2012 at 10:25.