Another fatal crash

[frostbite]

Just up the road from me - a "light aircraft", almost certainly heading for Southend, has crashed in Eastwood, Leigh-o-s, close by the A127.

Believed to have had just one occupant, who died at the scene.

[TheKentishFledgling]

Supposedly a 16 year old student.

http://www.thisisessex.co.uk/display.var.840828.0.student_pilot_dies_in_crash.php

Horrific news.

tKF

[markflyer6580]

That is sad news, I would have been terrified if something went wrong on my second solo flight.
Condolances to the family.

<<edit: ...and kind thoughts for the instructor, too>>

Not sure who edited my post but I had just come back on to add the same,I am looking forward to instructing and it is the worst thing that could happen to anybody in that job.

[frostbite]

A little more has emerged - it was a Cessna belonging to a flying club at Southend.

From the situation, I would say he was downwind, possibly turning base leg for 06 which has been in use today.

I am fairly sure there was another crash, only a few years ago, also at Eastwood Park

[old-timer]

Deepest condolences & respects to family & friends,
words cannot suffice at such times but
my thoughts are with you all tonight.

[MarcJF]

It was on the news earlier that this was the students second solo, after 15 hours tuition, and the crash was witnessed by his father. Truly horrific, words can't express the sadness the family must feel. Deepest condolences to the family and all involved.

[bar shaker]

My daughter is the same age and loves flying. Lost for words. So sad.

[Jamie-Southend]

Essex Fire & Rescue website states it was a Cessna 150, i presume one of the clubs A/C.

[Say again s l o w l y]

This is absolutely terrible, my condolences go out to all involved.

As an FI this is your worst nightmare and also having a 16 yr old student at the initial solo stages this really makes my blood run cold.

R.I.P. A real tragedy.

[Crosswind Limits]

Very sad news! :(

I used to instruct at Southend and it's a small community!

[cagivawally]

G BABB from Seawing FC

A sad sad day

[Snapshot]

My thoughts and prayers go out to this young aviators family

Im in Cape Town right now and had a msg from my a friend saying she heard
the aircraft crash! I have flown BB a few times and even had a photograph of my young son inside!

My thoughts are with all at Seawing and my prayers are with the Father of this boy who it seems was on first solo!
This may or may not be appropriate BUT as sad as this day is and I cant imagine a worst day for a parent, the lad passed doing what he loved and few get to do! If his Father ever gets to read this, please draw some comfort in this!
RIP aviator
God bless
SNAPSHOT xx

[paulF99]

It's Seawing Flying Club (my own), and the aircraft involved is one I've flown many times. Very sad for all involved.
The park where the aircraft crashed is situated at the turn-in for final 06 (or crosswind turn for 24).

[Pilot RatBoy]

Very sad event, and my deepest condolences to the family of the lad. Also my thoughts are with the FI who must be suffering bad tonight. I do however agree with snapshot, I have always said that if I die flying an aircraft then I will happy doing something I love. I know this will give very little comfort to the family, and I am really sorry if they read this. R.I.P fellow pilot <img smilieid="25" src="http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/smilies/puppy_dog_eyes.gif" border="0"><br>

[Cusco]

This is just terrible:

Not only has a young aviator lost his life at the outset of an aviating career but also his family are going through agony at the moment.

Lets also spare a thought for the FI who authorised this flight: he will have very mixed emotions right now.

I don't do condolences for people I don't know, but I can appreciate they're going through very dark times right now.

Cusco

[Snapshot]

Pilotratboy
im glad you wrote what you just did! Im a LONG way from home right now
but this has had a huge affect upon me tonight!
Ive lost a few friends recently in aviation especially with the South African Police. There is a saying, those who know, nothing needs to be said! Those who dont, wouldnt understand!!
Ive raised a large glass of Jack Daniels to this lad tonight and I trust the message gets through somewhere?
To all that might ever read this, life is short, do what you must, but whatever you choose to do, ENJOY!
My evening belongs to the lad, RIP fellow aviator
Snaps xx

[Superpilot]

Anybody aware of the ATC communications surrounding the event? Assume he was with Southend Tower?

[Suggs]

I lerned to fly at Seawing, my sympathies to all those involved especially the family and the FI.

I took that aircraft 8 years and 4000 hrs ago to Stapleford, despite my best efforts she looked after me a treat.

Seawing is a first rate club with excellent people and all but for the grace of God it could have been me.

[Martin @ EGLK]

According to the BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/5197742.stm the guy's actions could have saved the lives of those on the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It may be some small comfort to the lad's family that he appears to have deliberately steered away from a kids playing area, a bowling green and a nearby tower block," he said.


"He managed to put the plane down so that no-one else was hurt.
"It is a dreadful situation, but he was obviously thinking of others at the time and that shows real courage."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brave lad!

[frostbite]

Anybody aware of the ATC communications surrounding the event? Assume he was with Southend Tower?


I believe I heard him at taxi/takeoff time but I don't listen at all times and I'm not exactly sorry to have missed the incident.

[Saab Dastard]

WR,

I think I understand your objection, but perhaps in this case it might just be true and it might actually provide "some small comfort" by describing his actions as courageous.

No-one yet knows what happened; we may never know for sure what happened.

I cannot begin to know what the pilot's family is suffering, but I think I would prefer to believe that one of my sons acted courageously and selflessly in an appalling situation.

SD

[READY MESSAGE]

Sending somone solo is such a proud moment. Not just for the student, but for the instructor as well - and in this case the boys father who was (like so many proud dads) watching from the sidelines. It's so sad to hear of such a pround moment ending this way. Of course we remember the boys family at this awful time, but we must also remember the authorising FI. This will be particurly traumatic for him/her and I hope that professionally and emotionally they are strong enough to recover from this event.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, I always say to my family - If I die flying, I've died happy, doing something I have always loved.

RIP young man.

[gingernut]

As a pilot, I can recognise the fact that what we love does involve some degree of risk.

As a dad, I can't even begin to imagine how his family are now feeling. My thoughts are with you.

[Bahn-Jeaux]

The media never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

My feelings are with the family and the boys instructor.
I wont speculate but as a student PPL with only 4 hours solo time, I cannot imagine the scenario and it makes me wonder how I would react.
Could I carry out the drills as smoothly as practiced in a non emergency situation or would I stumble over the drills on my own.
Tragedy for all concerned.

[VFE]

Firstly, my thoughts go out to those affected. Words are never enough at such a time.

Without wishing to play air accident speculator I'll just say this to our student friend Bahn Jeaux....

Could I carry out the drills as smoothly as practiced in a non emergency situation or would I stumble over the drills on my own.
Tragedy for all concerned.
Know and be able to recognise all the pre-stall symptoms.

Low or decreasing airspeed
Slack controls
Possible high nose attitude
Buffet
Stall warner

Lastly, remember that stall speed increases in a decending turn due to reduced power.

Awful accident - hope someone is saved by reading the AAIB report in due course.

VFE.

[Jamie-Southend]

I do hope that it is appropriate to post this link, at what I think we all agree is a very sad time, but for those who maybe further interested in the incident, Essex Fire & Rescue website have some details and pictures on the following link.

http://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/pages/index.asp?area=5&id=46# (http://www.essex-fire.gov.uk/pages/index.asp?area=5&id=46)

[trafficcontrol]

I think its awful news. I was 16 when i was flying solo with tiny hours..you just can't imagin..you're never fully ready, never as sharp as you could be. Tragic.
My condolences too, to the family, the brave guy, the FI, all thoes who knew him, and all those who had to watch helplessly.

Sam Kidd
:-(

[TnT.......]

Very sad for any family to loose some one so young, but with his father waiting at the airfield, tragic. A candle blown out in the wind.:(

My thoughts with the family, friends ,his instructors who taught him and those involved on the ground. A sad day for someone's dream to be ended so sadly!

Little Comfort for his family is he missed the playground and other ground obsticles that even though so tragic for them, no one else was involved. I could have been alot more horrific, (not that this is not terrible) if he had not.

[tezzer]

It's a terrible accident, a tragedy for the family and those at he school.

I find myself in a similar position, as my 18 year old daughter is ready for her first solo, but has got a real problem in doing it. Her instructor says she's ready, and has been for a few hours, but she is terrified. There is no way on Earth that I am going to push her, God forbid that she had an accident if I did. I will therefore use this sad event to sit back and reflect. If she doesn't want to go, then she won't go. End of story. Yes, I'll be dissapointed, so will she, but if she realises that it's too big a hurdle to jump fair enough.

This poor young man's family are going through hell right now, my deepest sympathies go out to them, but their loss has brought home to me the inherrant dangers of young people flying.

[IO540]

Just seen the fire brigade pictures, showing the plane at nearly 90 degrees to the surface.

Does anyone know how far away this was from the intended destination?

[cagivawally]

Base final turn

[I Just Drive]

I too learnt, then later instructed at that club. It is indeed superb and I have huge sympathy for the instructor who I know to be supremely proffessional. My condolences to the family.

Red

[teleport]

Matching the Esses fire photos w. Google earth shows the position at about:
51 degrees 33 minutes 57.31 seconds North
0 degrees 39 minutes 28.55 seconds East
Not knowing the circuit and joining procedures for GA aircraft at EGMC, shows that the aircraft came down 1.2 statute miles from the threshold?

[OZAZTEC]

Not sure what to say but,

Firstly my most sincere condolences to Everyone involved

I have tears for so many reasons,

Seawing and it's predecessor (TEFC) was my learning ground.
I am now a senior instuctor here in OZ

I also 'luckily' "very"' survived an incident at Eastwood corner in 1976

The high standard of aircraft and instructors here in OZ try to mirror those of the UK.

My heartfelt thoughts to the Family, Seawing and everyone at Southend,

To those of you learning (we all are), learn and reach for the skies.

Paul Wright

I have had so many calls in the last 12 hours which shows our lives and loves effect so many people from around the world,

Fly with the angels and rest in peace.

[RamboWingman]

An eye witness Brian Nicholas said this:

"It was flying erractically and slowly, then bank, and nose dived towards the ground, spinning around it's fuselage."

From this, it is quite clear that the aircraft stalled, and fell to the ground. What caused the stall is the real mistery. A Cessna 150 is very hard to stall with flaps, but I am sure you are all aware how easy it is to be distracted whilst landing, especially as a learner.

I dont want to start an arguement, but I do think that saying he "saved lives" is a bit overkill. The plane obviously stalled and was spinning, so how would he have steared away from people??
If he was able to miss people, he would not have crashed in a vertical position!


Thats just my opinion (which is afterall what a forum is for), so dont shout at me if you dissaggree.

[Artificial Horizon]

What caused this terrible incident is NOT for us here on this thread to speculate. Now is the time for reflection and to pass on condolences to all involved in this tradegy. Wait for the official report and stop darkening this thread with speculation and drivel.

[IO540]

Wait for the official report
....

and for the analysis of the CVR and the FDR. Yes, right.

[Felix Saddler]

Show a little bit more respect you guys, this thread isnt about you, so for once can you take your ego's else where

[shy_one]

Can anyone confirm that this tragic event occured on the base to final turn as I have been informed from what should be a relaiable source that it was from takeoff to crosswind.

RIP young man

[frostbite]

As stated, 06 was in use all day, and the crash site is (roughly) SW of the airport.

[PAXboy]

I was visiting friends in Eastwood today, they saw the a/c up to 0.5 mile before impact, when it passed over their garden. The main witness, who saw the most, stated to me that the engine was out and the prop windmilling. The craft was extremely low and slow and appeared to be heading for the park but one wing dropped and he lost the height too rapidly into Eastwood Park. The witness did not see the a/c spin but it was right at the end of his sight line, when the wing went down, so there may have been the start of a spin but it would have been of very short duration before impact.

The observer was RAF ground crew for seven years and has reported to the AAIB and his evidence has been documented.

It was certainly the case that the reports of the impact being witnessed by the boy's father are false. The father was at the main Southend field and count not possibly have seen this. I am told that reporting in the local paper was also inaccurate and inappropriate. As always.

[theresalwaysone]

How extremely sad to hear this awful news.

I am picking up on some of the comments about the press vultures. Its at time like this that we get to see how tasteless the British press are, the first thing they always go for the 'steering away to save lives angle' its got so much more human interest and 'pads' out a story. Not that I am specualting that this young pilot wasnt, its just the print anything you can mentality is more about making news than reporting it.

I am always reminded of the Kegworth accident, while Captain Hunt was seriously injured in hospital the press were visiting his neighbours asking if anyone knew if he was having an affair with any BM hosties.