Graham Hill Crash - What was the verdict?

[denis555]

Just saw a documentary on TV the other night about the late, great, Graham Hill.

Although the sad circumstances of the crash was briefley mentioned I have a vague recollection ( maybe rumours ) about the circumstances leading up to it.

They were;

Hill trained to fly in the US and was unused to flying in conditions of low visibility.
His PPL had expired ( making his insurance invalid and thus his estate was sued by the relatives of the victims )
His altimeter was not adjusted correctly giving a much higher reading.
He was under too much presure to return that night ( conjecture )Can anyone throw more light on the subject please?

Thanks

[PLovett]

Suggest you follow the link shown at the bottom of the page. Quite a lot of discussion about the crash.:ok:

[PPRuNe Pop]

This will save you looking for it.

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=224759

I had been flying that day and the clag was everywhere.

A perfect example of 'accidents don't just happen, they are caused.'

PPP

[denis555]

Thank you PPruNe Pop and Plovett - that thread answers all my questions.:ok:

[Background Noise]

AAIB Report HERE (http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/14_1976__n6645y.cfm)

[thegypsy]

I was operating into Luton Airport about the same time and we just got in on a CAT 1 DH200ft and RVR 600m so what he was doing at Elstree just down the road beggars belief. The whole of the South East was foggy that night I recall unlike sometimes Luton could be foggy and others in the clear and vice versa.

[FAL]

Motorsport author David Tremayne's book "The Lost Generation" (about the all too brief lives of drivers Roger Williamson, Tom Pryce and Tony Brise, first published a couple of years ago) covers the Graham Hill crash in the sort of detail an aviation expert would probably find acceptable and also covers the financial implications for the families of both NGH and TB.
I did not see the recent programme as it was not on normal terrestial TV but comment from the motorsport area implies the liability aspect was glossed over somewhat. This programme was apparently made some time ago (by Jackie Stewart's younger son) but has only just been seen (no mention is made in it that interviewed BRM and Lotus engineer Tony Rudd had since died).

[denis555]

but comment from the motorsport area implies the liability aspect was glossed over somewhat.


I don't think anything was mentioned at all regards liability - neither was the subsequent legal actions or the affect it had on everyone concerned he just had a crash and the his family's life 'exploded' according to Damon.

[Warmtoast]

Dennis 555

Graham Hill Crash - What was the verdict?

AAIB page with links to the accident here: http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/14_1976__n6645y.cfm

Accident report itself as PDF file here:
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/14-1976%20N6645Y.pdf

With Report Appendices as a PDF file here:
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/14-1976%20N6645Y%20Append.pdf

[Stearperson]

Denis:
Believe it or not we also have fog and low visibility here in the USA.
Ran across your post while researching Graham Hill.
This was certainly a sad and tragic loss. His friends and racing fans across the globe are certainly poorer for the loss of Graham and his passengers.
To blame this accident on his having learned to fly in the US is pure folly.
Cheers, Stearperson

[DaveReidUK]

Denis:

Dennis hasn't posted on PPRuNe for more than 9 years ...

[Stearperson]

Dennis hasn't posted on PPRuNe for more than 9 years ...

I am in good company then. That was my first post in 7 years!