Ardmore Flying School Crash
 

Does anybody have any information? All I heard was it was a flock of ducks.:rolleyes: Sounds more like typical ardmore showing off gone wrong. At least they werent badly hurt so they've probably learnt their lesson. Anyone know who was involved?

Yes everyone knows who it was..hes a stand up bloke with plenty of experience and there are ducks out at the low flying area and you are allowed to fly at extreme low level cause it is a low flying area..nothing to see here really..I have issues with AFS like many people but I doubt if theres any conspiracy this time!!

Duck! No son it was a seagull!
 

Low level max rate to 'avoid a flock of birds'.

Thing was though, from accounts, birds kept on flying, plane didn't!

Glad all walked away.

:ok:

"stand up bloke with plenty of experience" That wouldnt be the same guy who has a reputation as a risk taking cowboy....would it? He who sets a bad example will be made an example of..

Everyone's okay, and thats what matters most.

Kerms :zzz:

Glad to hear that Pilots and Ducks are okay.

Brings a new meaning of "Low TAX" ;)

Doh!!
you know you've had a bad day when it makes the front page of the paper, especially when it is a rather large colour photo.
Onwards and upwards boys.

cloudcover

Don't assume too much mate. It is very easy to second guess what went on in this sort of accident, but in my veiw it is totally inapropriate to do so in a public forum.

I will also testify to the experience, character and skill of the instructor involved. We all make mistakes or have lapses in judgement, fortunately most of the time we get off with a bit of a scare. Lets just all be thankfull that nobody was seriously hurt. I have no doubt that this incident will have a positive effect on the future judgements of both pilots - perhaps we can all use it as a learning tool or little reminder.

The low flying area is just that, and is also a transit lane for assorted birds feeding on the mudflats.
Low flying is a calculated risk, lets hope that the PC brigade dont
try and deem it as 'unsafe' and take it away.....


Accident or not, low flying training has helped many a pilot
get out of, or stay out of difficulty.



Glad the instructor and student are OK.



:ok:

Cloud cover - pull you head in son.... Nobody likes a wise guy....

It would appear you knew all along who was involved but decided to stirr things up a bit.

Not very professional !!

So what actually happened please?

Stall? Engine failure? How/where did they land?

Just seen the wreck..back at Ardmore now and looks terrible. Apparently the front end was so heavy with mud and oysters that the tail came off during the lift out..and the Hiab has wrecked the wings too, sorry Mike your superb forced landing is a bit irrelevant now..plus 2 nights in salt water!!

Anyway, its up for tender..be in to win!!

What was the A/C type?...and did this happen in the low flying area at the end of the clevedon valley?

I trust MattyJ..from your comments that the standard of instruction..and oversight has improved since I had dealings with Mr Saddler..and the Needhams in the mid 1990's.

Great news that all are ok by the way.

:}

..I wouldnt go that far;)

..I just know the instructor involved and hes top shelf..one of the few left with any experience

(type 172..1998 model..yes in low flying area)

I liked the article in the Herald quoting the AFS General Manager "....whilst avoiding the flock of [insert breed of choice], the aircraft stalled and made a gentle descent onto the mudflats"

S2K

"top shelf pilot" gimme a break. What are you basing it on? I base my opinion on the fact he's nearly killed me twice and probably many others aswell. What happened my have been an accident, we'll never know. All I'm saying is I wasnt suprised he was involved.
The problem is that many guys look up to him and think his behaviour is 'cool' and acceptable.:yuk:
But hey, cloudcutter thinks he's skillful with great character so it must be untrue:rolleyes:

Cloudcover,

In my days of instructing ive had licence holders of various experience levels 'nearly kill me' too but i wouldnt go as far as to comment on these people as individuals on a pulic forum when the facts are unknown.
As far as im concerned cloudcutters comment sums up my thoughts and im sure many others........

The facts, according to the AFS spokesman, were that the pilot saw some birds, tried to pull a max-rater just like they teach you at pilot school, promptly stalled (in an aircraft that gives you plenty of warning) and did a face-plant into the mud. In other words, this one is going to be down to pilot error. Feel free to ignore the obvious, and wait for the eventual report if you so desire.

As for the ability of the pilot in command... well the aircraft eneded up in the mud, didn't it?

Now of course, if the spokesman was wrong, and the aircraft suffered serious structural damage before the heroic instructor managed to force land it (with quite a lot of force) in the mud, I will be the first to retract and applaud his efforts.

Doubt it, though. As neither pilot was badly hurt, I'm sure what happened is known to the investigators. It'll still take year to get the report, though.

A 172 stalled in a turn???...is that possible? Cos a 172 damn near slaps you on the back of the head and says "HEY DUMBASS I'M GONNA STALL EASE OFF A LITTLE !!!!!"

(even from a mere 1500hrs of 172 experience I noted this subtle handling trait)

Cheers H




:ok:

P.S. Mor have you ever done a max rate in the "queen of the skies?":}

If I may speculate, I think you'll find the aircraft hit a post (the ones used for slalom practice), and managed to limp upright into a reasonable ditching. The large gash in the underside of one of the wings would back this up. I certainly don't believe the talk of stalling or anything to do with birds.

cloudcover - I appologise if I have offended you with my continuos web of lies:hmm: