New Zealand pilot killed on delivery flight to California

[troppo]

NZ Herald

New Zealand pilot killed on delivery flight to California

27.12.2003
1.20pm - By MARTIN JOHNSTON
A New Zealand pilot died today when the plane he was delivering to the United States crashed into the sea, about 480km off the California coast.

Kelvin Stark, 58, of Tauranga, was ferrying one of the new Pacific Aviation Corporation 750XL planes, made in Hamilton, to the US.

His wife, April, said she was told of the tragedy at about 3am by a US radio operator who had been in contact with her husband and had telephoned her.

Mr Stark's brother-in-law, Mike Fletcher, said Mr Stark was alone in the plane, which had apparently ditched in the sea and flipped after a fuel problem.

He was to have left from Hamilton Airport on December 19, but was delayed until Tuesday and made several stops on the delivery flight, the last in Hawaii.

"The Coastguard have confirmed Kelvin is still inside the aircraft but the seas are very heavy."

Divers had jumped into the water from a helicopter, but had so far been unable to retrieve Mr Stark's body as the seas were too rough, Mr Fletcher said.

US reports said Air Force parajumpers found the lifeless man strapped in the cockpit of the plane.

Mr Fletcher understood that Mr Stark's plane was either low on fuel or developed a fuel-transfer problem involving one of the fuel tanks inside the plane.

Mrs Stark said she hoped the plane would remain floating until the seas calmed enough for her husband's body to be removed.

"It's pretty tough. I've already been down this track before." Her first husband, who was also a pilot, died in a plane crash more than a decade ago.

She said Mr Stark specialised in ferry flying. "Ferry flying is a risky job. We always knew that. I'm a pilot as well so I know what's involved in it, but when it's in your blood that's what you do."

Pacific Aviation has sold 18 of its PAC 750XL planes, a short take-off and landing aircraft originally based on a topdresser.

The company says it is the first passenger plane designed and made in New Zealand and the first new aircraft built in the last 25 years specifically for the adventure parachuting market. It can lift 17 fully-kitted skydivers to 11,811 feet in 12 minutes. It is also considered suitable for other purposes, including cargo, sightseeing, medical and military uses.

Executives at the company could not be immediately reached today, but on Monday, general manager John McWilliam said it had delivered one of its new planes to Californian company Woodland Utility Aircraft and that this was the first overseas sale of the aircraft.

It appears that this may be the aircraft Mr Stark flew.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pics/27pac750xl.JPG

[flyingkiwi]

My heartfelt simpathy to April and all the familiy and friends close to Kelvin.

His loss, im sure will be felt all over the world. I knew him personally about 10 years ago when he was at Ardmore with Nationwide Helecopters .

He brought a bunch of Nomads from Dawin and I was lucky enough to ferry one over to NZ with him, It was my first oceanic flying and first turbine rating, With my 500hrs tt it was something very special and a huge boost for my confidence and career.

My thoughts go out especially to April, whom has been through this before with the tragic loss of her first husband. Still she stayed in aviation and was always willing to help out young pilots as the started there careers. Although she most likely doesnt remember me the affect her and Kelvin had on my career was massive.

Kelvin was a true character, and will be sorely missed.

[cjam]

Has anyone heard anything more about what happened other than what is in the papers?

[SawThe Light]

My condolences to April and others.

Who could ever forget Kelvin all those years ago with Stark (naked) Aviation and the PA 28.

Those priceless memories of Kelvin trying desperately to speak French in his early days flying the Gazelle in New Caledonia attempting to tell the rather excited owner that the engine had "blown up" all on its own.

Moments of panic at seeing Kelvin "getting out of Dodge" after very kindly assisting my-self and a colleague into a fight with what turned out to be a superior force. Kelvin had been our "Ace in the hole" because of his size, but later claimed that thought we would be able to handle it ourselves. Claimed his forte was administration.

His "difficulty" with a PA 32 near the end of an oceanic ferry into NZ resulting in an "un-planned" landing on the coast before arriving at the customs. Hmmmmm.

Then the sight of him folding himself up to fit into a Robbie.

I am amazed that more folks haven't burst into print with some of the legends.

We had the odd hundred or so beers, and the odd thousand laughs.

Sad to see you go mate, but at least you were doing what you loved doing.

[tinpis]

RIP Kelvin.

Had lots af laughs with Kelvin at the old "SkyRoamers" Ardmore must have been 1969 he started Stark Naked?

Last time i heard him was when he ferried a Harvard from NZ into Brocken Hill of all places.

[Loc-out]

"A PAC spokesman told the Herald that the airplane probably didn't have any mechanical problem but just ran out of fuel."

In my view they already have exposed themselves to possible legal action, with their stupid comment to the press.

In most cases it's a crime to run out of fuel and this poor man, who is unable to defend himself, has been accused of it.

Just hope the deceased relatives instigate legal action immediately.


My condolences to his family.

[VH-WASA]

My condolences to April, family and friends.

I had the pleasure of taking Kelvin for his first flight way back in July 1964 in Wellington. His brother, Chaunsey (chopper) and friend, Roger (blackbox) both of Liberty Lodge were sailing to England on the ship "Wanganella" when we decided to fly over it once outside Wellington Harbour and throw toilet paper out the window. Well Kelvin thought if this is what aviation is about, I'm going for it, it's so much fun. Needless to say, a couple of months later, Kelvin arrived at Ardmore in his red Morris 1100 to start his first flying leson at Auckland Flying School.

A foundation member of "Skyroamers" where we consumed large amounts of alcohol and saw many girls come and go. He eventually started Stark Aviation at Ardmore and from there he certainly had an exciting career in aviation. Lots of ups and downs, lots and lots of laughs and great times had by all.

A true friend I'll never forget, one of the true characters of aviation who never had a dull moment.

R.I.P. Kelvin

John Stevens

[Yankee_Doodle_Floppy_Disk]

My condolences to April.

One of my first memories of Kelvin Stark was the morning he returned to Ardmore in a C402 with the nose wheel "dangling in the breeze". His passengers were all Commercial Pilots. They had chartered the aircraft from DT to go to a footy match in Whangarei. As the aircraft landed on Grass 21, all the pax ran down the back. This resulted in the aircraft sitting on its tail whilst the wheel was lowered into the correct position.

More recently I recall he had acquired a Nomad, with the registration NAD. Kelvin added two light Gold letters in front of the Rego. "GONAD".

I'll bet there's plenty more stories.

One of Aviation's great characters.

RIP Kelvin.

[flyingkiwi]

I remember being on the sales demo flight of ZK-NAD to Parakai with Kelvin. Standard procedure when showing a new a/c to a prospective buyer is the good oll beat up... flat out at zero feet up the strip, we came around and landed only to be meet by CAA whom happened to be doing a audit on the flying school...Kelvin as laid back as ever ...sorry Mr CAA what you heard as a beat up was acutaly a go-round due ....

I had my first chopper ride with KS as well, i was meant to be taking areial photos of the flying shool i worked at, i had the door on my side removed, knowing i was straped in encourauged Kelvin to do all sorts of wingover type manouvers... What a first chopper experience.

RIP Kelvin

[demario]

Loc-out,I dont mean to bring up old posts but you should really get your facts straight before criticising PAC.

The crash was!! due to lack of fuel!!!The reason being that the cap on the fuel tank was not closed properly after refuelling at helo in Hawaii,therefore being a pressurised tank fuel pissed out till it was all gone.And probably happened again when the ferry fuel was put in to that wing tank again!

This accident was due to the pilot(Kelvin) not checking to see the cap was on properly,and also not monitoring fuel flow in flight.It was in no way the fault of PAC.

I knew Kelvin,I looked up to him,as a lot of people did.But he had done a lot of ferry flights and eventually you make a mistake,even him,who I regarded as the best ferry pilot in NZ. RIP Kelvin.

So next time you want to criticise someone,get your facts straight.

[Thump & Go]

Demario this is probably a case of the horse having well and truely bolted, given it's 2 months later.
However, perhaps you should re-read the post by Loc-out, as far as I can see there are no facts stated in his post.A PAC spokesman told the Herald that the airplane probably didn't have a mechanical problem but just ran out of fuel.
So, lets see....on the one hand the spokesman (by saying "probably") clearly doesn't no for sure why the a/c went down, then on the other states it ran out of fuel?!:*
What Loc-out was getting at I think, (no, I'm not him & I don't know him) is that running out of bang-water is a serious accusation for any pilot, let alone one that can't defend himself.
By leaping in with that statement PAC could've conceivably left themselves open to some sort of slander case. I don't see in any way that he was suggesting the manufacture of the a/c was faulty which appears to be the way you've taken it.
At NO stage was it stated in the post that the crash was PAC's fault.
IMHO, PAC are thoroughly deserving of the criticism for their immediate, knee-jerk reaction to protect the new "flagship" product - do you not agree? Why not let the investigators get on with the job without every Tom, Dick and Bloxam offering their view on things, particularily within a day or two of an accident or incident?
On the subject of non-curved facts, I wasn't aware that the report on this accident was complete - when was it discovered that a fuel cap was incorrectly fitted and that Kelvin had not checked it?
Have they retrieved the a/c from the 2 kms of water that it sank in?
Are you not speculating in the same way you believe Loc-out to be?

Peace out homies:cool:

[demario]

Thump & go.This statement was not an allegation,it was the truth,it ran out of gas.Even the refueller at helo noticed the cap was not on properly,but he was waived off.

I dont think IMHO that PAC were deserving of this criticism,they were no doubt being hounded by the media for info,so they released a press statement.

Im sure you would react the same if you invested the same amount of time and money into an a/c as they have.
I have in no way interfered with investigations into this,having only posted about this recently.

The report is complete,was done in the states,will no doubt be available here soon.

I am in no way blaming anyone,a mistake was made,albeit a fatal one,these things happen,even from the best ferry pilots.

The a/c has not been recovered,as it drifted for quite a while before it sank,it could be anywhere.

If you dont believe me,thats fine,but I have no reason to lie.

RIP Kelvin.

[Ralph the Bong]

What a p!sser, "A go-around due..":p What a character. Condolences to family.:(

[slamer]

Hmmm....so is the Fuel Cap a faulty design?

[tinpis]

A foundation member of "Skyroamers" where we consumed large amounts of alcohol and saw many girls come and go. He eventually started Stark Aviation

:p

Thats gotta be "Buddha"

[justathought]

Slamer,

the fuel cap is not of faulty design, not unless all NATO caps are faulty.

JAT

[slamer]

How about a "deficient design" then, before you reply remember the outcome of THIS flight!.......... just a thought

[Thump & Go]

Demario, I have no doubt the a/c ran out of gas, the question is was it exhaustion or starvation? I am surprised/disappointed to hear a refueler noticed the dodgy cap but was unable to impress the importance of his discovery prior to a 14 hour flight across the pacific.

I have not suggested that you are blaming anyone nor that you have interfered with the investigation, I'm sure you or anyone with half a brain would not do that in a situation as sad as this.

PAC were fully entitled to defend their multi-million dollar investment in the product with a press release but perhaps they could have stopped before mentioning running out of fuel. I'm sure to your mother as it would to mine and the general public that could mean only one thing - the pilot messed up. That is where the critisism has been drawn - hell in the good 'ol US of A that would have been enough for lawsuits to Africa and back!