Small A/C Threatens Sky Tower
 

9:40pm, a small aircraft stolen from ardmore airfield is threating to crash into the sky tower, police are in contact, it is currently circling above West Auckland.

Sorry thats all i got at this stage!

Stolen A/C
 

The said aircraft has crashed onto a beach near mission bay, apparently the pilot is on the shoreline (presumably alive).

The a/c has just crashed into the water off St Heliers.

Not known how many on board, nor the extent of any injuries.

Anyone know any more?

Unofficial update:

Only one person on board.

Apparently crashed near to National leaders Don Brashs house

http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11964-4779478,00.html

One of my mates who lives on Tamaki Drive went across the road to the beach and was around 100m from it but couldn't really see much. I saw a short clip on the One News bulliten around 11pm and to me it looked like a Cherokee tail when it flashed up in the light. Apparently a middle-aged man was pulled out of the water with injuries and taken to hospital.

Now, none of that would have happened if you in unzud had adopted security checks, photo licences and airside cards like we have been forced into doing. you think this bloke would have paid his $200 to obtain all the correct checks and licences?. :hmm: :hmm:
It was just lucky that he wasn't one of Osama's mates or he could have killed and maimed thousands in some sort of terrorist attack. or thats what our government would have us believe anyway. :hmm: :hmm:

Wizard....agree to some extent....seems that most of the reports have come from the media(and we all know these reports to 100% true)when these jokers are not reporting they are practising pilots :E ....would rather wait until the official explanation is given by somebody "in the know".....hui

Airplane plunges into sea after evacuation

18.09.05
By Amanda Cameron


A man in a stolen plane forced the evacuation of terrified diners from Auckland's Sky Tower last night before crashing into the sea at St Heliers Bay.

A man was believed to have stolen a Piper Cherokee from Ardmore Airport around 7pm yesterday intending to fly into the Sky Tower.

The plane flew near the tower around 9pm and crashed into water about 50m off Kohimarama Beach around 40 minutes later.

The man was taken by police escort to Auckland Hospital by ambulance. His condition was listed as serious but not critical.

Diners and revellers at Sky City poured out into the street after a warning from emergency services prompted Sky City management to stage an evacuation soon after the plane flew past the windows of Orbit Restaurant.

Police said after the incident saying neither the plane nor any of the occupants were regarded as a threat to any buildings or people.

But witnesses at the scene - some who had been evacuated and others who had left the building voluntarily after cellphone warnings from friends and family - had been concerned for their safety.

John Ewins, who had been celebrating his 37th birthday with four friends at Orbit Restaurant, had been tucking into a seafood smorgasbord when he saw "a set of lights" pass by the window about 9.15pm.

Shortly afterwards, a waitress told them there was a bomb scare and asked them to leave the building.

Mr Ewins immediately left his table and headed for the stairs - all 57 flights - with eight others.

Kim Lyall, a St Heliers resident who witnessed the crash, said he was sitting outside when he heard a low-flying aircraft overhead.

"I ran outside and saw the plane. It was flying erratically. It seemed to slow down before hitting the water."

Michael Donahue, an American visiting on consultancy work, said plain-clothed policemen dived into the water to rescue the man.

"At one stage, they were dragging him by the neck. They were treating him like a real criminal. He couldn't move his hands or legs. They appeared to be broken. He was totally conscious."

Police told the Herald on Sunday the fact the incident was on election night was "an amazing coincidence". The police said they knew the man's motive but last night wouldn't say what it was or whether he was a New Zealander. He faces numerous charges.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY

Crickey the media can't get anything right.
It actually crashed off Kohi beach, and this is nowhere near Brashs house which is 2 suburbs away in Glendowie!

The aircraft belonged to Massey University. Still not sure of its rego - the one quoted (MBO) by the media is a Seminole I think.

Apparently an ex Massey employee.

6080ft

A flight instructor gone off the rails? Watch this space. I think MBO is a seminole now opperated by CTC

And no fighters to have a closer look. Might be something the new government coalition will need to look at.

Security at Ardmore consists of 30cm fence!

Just went down and had a look and was in time to see them bring it up and put onto a barge.

It is about 80 meters off shore form the Kohi yacht club and the weather is c%#p.

It is/was a PA28 could be MBQ.

I have some good pix if someone could tell me how to post them here?

Cherokee MBQ was here at AR yesterday..not here now..flew return to Hamilton around midday but wasn't refuelled on return. It was still parked outside the deserted Massey building at 1730 last night.
The 172 parked next to it looks to have been fiddled with last night too, not a Massey A/C but it could be the wind that has blown the cover half off. Interestingly there does not seem to be any cars parked nearby..a local perhaps? Plenty of cars left overnight at the Aeroclub bar though;)

Perhaps they should have scrambled an Aztec to take a look - the Aztec is perhaps the finest aircraft the unzud air farce can cross hire (just watch out for the dicky door) :}

I heard the Naval Helicopter SeaSprite buzzing around when I went to take a look, with that distinctive rotor noise. Maybe that was sent up?

the police chopper eagle (as-355) was tailing it apparently

A pic of the pilot appeared in the Herald on Sunday today - and he looks like someone I know, and an A cat instructor, too. I really hope I'm wrong...he'd be the last person I'd have suspected stressing out on anything.

If you have stress in your life, do something about it fast - before this happens to you....
:uhoh:

I'm afraid you are not wrong

THe missus says after watching the news,"why don't they just send the airforce up and shoot it down?"

What air force? Here's a country with no means of defending itself. And they just voted the chick with a voice like she has cojones, back in as PM.

Well, I'd have to say that let's say NZ did have some fighter a/c....do you really think that there would be a green light to start shooting missles and/or bullets the size of your fist over a highly populated city? The same thing happened in the US (twice)and due to the speed (let's say 100kts) compared to 500kts of a fast jet and the fact that shooting it down would kill/injure more people than letting him fly around the city I think that the appropriate course of action was taken. More people would be injured if someone drove their family car into a restaurant than a cherokee flying into a building. Let's keep this in perspective. As much as the thought of the military being able to sort this problem out the reality is totally different. My sympathies go out to this guy (most people from Ardmore will know him). He has obviously had some major turmoil in his life and things have turned out very very bad for him. Not only is he never going to be abe to fly a plane again but he has some extremely serious criminal charges to face.

Some news sites (and pictures - it is certainly MBQ) here.

So is there anything definite on who it is? I have not seen today's paper.

I hope that, whoever the pilot was, he's able to get his life back on track, even once the legal issues have been dealt with.

O8

Oktas...if you go and buy the "Herald on Sunday" there is a picture of the pilot after he was dragged from the water. If you know the guy you will instantly recognise him. I think it may be better to not have his name splashed over this forum. Already released......a-cat, former Massey Instructor...his name may be next.

Yes nice bloke..pity..he did have the authority (and key) to that aircraft so he didn't steal it..so he shouldn't get charged for that..as for all the other stupid things he did...temporary insanity seems to be a plea that does very well in the NZ courts these days..

..lets say he is just the First to loose it in an increasingly stressed out industry.:uhoh:

:sad:

The guy did my "b" cat some years ago. I have flown with him, drank with him, worked with him, and laughed with him.
This is so far out of character I am stunned. I feel for you at the moment buddy. Life WILL get better......
Please can all you other fellow aviator's keep his name away from here as I am sure those media LEECH WORM'S will take care of that.. BUGGER:uhoh:

fighter jets wouldnt have made much difference considering they were based at ohakea a couple of hundred kms south, navy seasprite from devonport might have had a bit of firepower though, but as some other posters have said it would have been more dangerous to those on the ground

I totally agree. Let's remember that the media monitor's these forums. His name will no doubt be released in the coming week but everyone has a family and it would be better for them to find out through a relative than via the media and/or here.

Remember, everyone has a breaking point......

yes indeed whiteknuckles.....the filth of the media do lurk in here...the media are bath tub scum suckers!

Everybody has a breaking point as you mentioned. I am not defending his actions at all, however, for those of you who do not know him he was... polite. mild mannered. sociable... a great instructor and a general good bastard! So again be careful not to give to much away on here for now fellas:::yuk:

:ugh:

Whiteknuckle
Whether this guy had a problem is beside the point. He could have had it packed with explosives and kamikazed into a major public venue. Better it falls into the city elsewhere. In this case there was no option but to accept the consequenses of his actions. We had no possible means of taking out this guy and what if it had been something bigger?
You never know, he might have crashed into Helen Clark's office.

Thinking objectively, no call for military action for this type of event. The Rockwell Commander 112 TC that hit the building in Milan, and the 172 into the building in Tampa, in both cases the aircraft and persons in them came off second best.

Even in the US with the 172, they sent an unarmed coast guard helicopter after it, not fast jets.

I think the action taken was appropriate, the situation looks like it has been diffused without any life being lost.

I hope former colleagues and students of this person rally behind them to help them through this difficult time.

Well done to the police for not exaggerating the incident beyond what it was, a cry for help.

Thats so sad, I flew MBQ a number of times and it was one of better PA28s in the fleet. Its a shame because they really need more cherokees to ensure everyone is completed on time this semester, looks like MBC might have to pressed back in to service.

I find it suprising that in a situation like this that people think that shooting down the aircraft is the solution. If fighters were based at Whenuapai then it would have been feasable, stupid, but feasable but they would't have been able to do it if fighters were based at Ohakea. Negotiators on the frequency would be able to ascertain if the threat to the sky tower was credible and as someone else has mentioned shooting it down would probably do more damage.

Geez it don't take sum of youse long ta ferget 911 (the Twin Towers, and Pentagone) does it!

Nice bloke or not, this fella has just highlighted to any pertential suicide fliers, a major flaw in New Zealands Non Defence Force.

Seems like sum of youse might've also forgotten the flight manuals linked to sum terrorists that were found in New Zealand just after 911 as well.

Be seein youse round.

SWH
What was the APPROPRIATE action? They had no choice but to let this guy( terrorist?) do what ever he wanted to do.

Skol, you miss my point.... This is a cherokee which let's use your argument, had been packed with explosives. Look at the useful load of a cherokee and the amount of explosives you could pack. High explosives are difficult to source. Fertiliser is the next option which wouldn't have done much in a light a/c. This is not the first time and unfortunately not the last time this will happen. Without giving too much away I am in a position which regularly reviews terrorist possibilities. This is simply someone who has had things spiral out of control. If he had driven a car (which is heavier than a cherokee) into a restaurant there would have been more dangers. The Tampa situation which has been mentioned is in the US of A with one of the largest militaries in the world yet they did not shoot down that light aircraft. Why?...because it would have most likely caused more destruction on the ground. When there is a threat it must be looked at objectively. Could a light aircraft be packed with explosives?......possibly but certainly not probably. I would be extremely surprised if any country in the world would shoot down a light a/c over a major city. A light a/c even crashed onto the lawn of the White House not so long ago.

I say again....let's keep this in perspective.

I watched One News tonight and they released the pilot's name. Those of us who already knew this did not release his name here. Let's not start any sort of character assasination here as has been the case with some a/c accidents. He obviously needs some help in rebuilding his life and those of us who know him should not make this any harder.

I repeat......keep this in perspective...this was not a terrorist attack.

Renegade pilot is former flying instructor
 

18.09.05 1.00pm

It has emerged the man who allegedly threatened to crash a light plane into Auckland's Sky Tower last night, is a former instructor at Massey University's flying school.

The man took the Piper Cherokee without authority from the school's base at Ardmore aerodrome, and flew low over the city centre.

A police helicopter shadowed the plane's movements until it eventually crashed into the sea off Kohimarama beach in East Auckland.

Auckland city police communications manager Noreen Hegarty said in a statement to NZPA today that the pilot, who was taken to hospital about 9.40pm last night, was to be interviewed by police today.

He is believed to be in a serious but not critical condition.

The restaurants in Sky Tower had been evacuated as a precaution because of the plane's flight path, police said.

Police are carrying out a criminal investigation in tandem with the Civil Aviation Authority's safety investigation. The aircraft was recovered from Kohimarama Beach this morning when it was put onto a barge and delivered to land-based secure storage where the CAA investigators will continue their work.

Despite early conjecture that the man's actions may have been politically motivated, it is understood the man was emotionally upset over recent relationship difficulties.

He remains in Auckland Hospital with his injuries and under police guard.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA

18/09/2005
NewstalkZBA

Text-book wreckage recovery effort in Auckland has the Civil Aviation Authority on target for a quick crash investigation.

The plane crashed into the sea off St Heliers just before ten on Saturday night.

CAA spokesman Bill Sommer says a wing had separated from the aircraft, but there were no real recovery problems.

The team had arrived at the scene early because they were concerned the winds and tides might hamper the recovery effort, but it was actually a quick and simple retrieval.

Mr Sommer says the salvage team had most of the plane in before lunchtime. The wreckage has been taken to a secure facility so investigators can figure out why the plane went into the water.

He says the CAA is concerned only with why the plane went down. Other issues are being investigated by police.

The man who allegedly threatened to crash the Piper Cherokee into Auckland's Sky Tower, is a former instructor at Massey University's flying school. It's alleged he took the Piper Cherokee without authority from the school's base at Ardmore aerodrome, and flew low over the city centre.

A police helicopter shadowed the plane's movements until it eventually crashed into the sea off Kohimarama beach, from where the wreckage has been retrieved.

It is understood the man was emotionally upset over recent relationship difficulties.

During the height of the incident about 500 people were evacuated from Auckland's Sky Tower observation deck and restaurants, however, the SkyCity Casino at the base of the tower was not evacuated.

TV ONE

One of New Zealand's most respected pilots was responsible for an election night security scare by threatening to fly a stolen aircraft into Auckland's Sky Tower.

Police have interviewed .................... who took the Piper Cherokee, owned by Massey University, from Ardmore Airport in South Auckland on Saturday night.

.................... was at the controls as the plane flew over the city for several hours before crashing into the sea off Kohimarama Beach.

Police said the qualified pilot was believed to have stolen the plane at 7pm from Ardmore, south of the city.

International airport control tower staff notified police of an unidentified aircraft at about 8.15pm.

Police say they had no direct contact with the plane, instead the pilot was talking to air traffic controllers, telling them he intended to crash into the Sky Tower.

"While there has been some speculation about the pilot's motivation, police at this stage do not believe his actions were politically motivated," police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said.

About 500 people were evacuated from Sky Tower's observation deck and restaurants around 9pm after it became apparent the light aircraft was approaching the structure - the tallest in the southern hemisphere.

Orbit Restaurant diner John Ewins said he saw a set of lights pass the window about 9.15pm and shortly after patrons were asked to leave via 57 flights of stairs.

The Sky City Casino at the base of the tower was not evacuated.

"Not long after the evacuation was completed, the plane crashed into the water about 50 metres offshore on an outgoing tide at about 9.40pm," Police Inspector Jim Wilson said.

"The pilot was able to make his way - unassisted - to the beach where medical treatment was administered. He was taken to Auckland Hospital by ambulance."

A bystander at Kohimarama Beach near where the plane crashed said plain clothes police used force after diving in to rescue the pilot.

"At one stage they were dragging him by the neck. They were treating him like a real criminal," Michael Donohue said.

.................., one of New Zealand's most respected light aircraft pilots, is a former instructor with Massey University's flying school. He and his wife had just returned from Fiji where they had been living for six months. Those close to him say ................ was upset as the pair had recently parted.

.............. is in a stable condition and under guard at Auckland hospital.

The aircraft was recovered by barge on Sunday morning and taken to a storage facility for a Civil Aviation Authority investigation.

CAA spokesman Bill Sommer says if it appears the man ditched the plane intentionally, the investigation will be solely a police matter.

The incident was the second major security scare in New Zealand in a week, after a man with a fake bomb occupied a high-rise hotel for more than 12 hours in Tauranga on Thursday.

Whiteknuckle,
The police say it was not a terrorist attack but who knows the truth?
It could have been a bigger a/c packed with explosives.
What would have happened, who knows. Very naive I would say.
We have absolutely no means of protecting ourselves. Tell us all(with your inside info) what the plan is if this guy was really serious?

Skol, the appropriate course of action WAS taken. No one was injured other than himself. As for naivity.......if we had a squadran of F-18's the same action would have been taken. The same thing would have happened in Sydney, London and Washington. This is not the movies. A missile would have been ineffective. A cannon projectile would have gone through a light a/c like it was paper and would have caused far more problems on the ground.

As for "The police say it was not a terrorist attack but who knows the truth?".....I can categorically say that this was NOT a terrorist act.....what exactly do you mean "if this guy was serious"? What do you propose should have been done if all the resources in the world were available to you?

The pilot has been hospitalised and will be able to rebuild his life...no one else was injured. A perfect resolution I must say.

How do you know this was not a terrorist attack (with your inside info)? It may well have been. No court case has been held yet. Reports on the news say this was one of the country's most "respected pilots". Is this what the country's most 'respected pilots" do?
Answer the question (with your inside info), what will happen if it is the real deal, in your judgement, (with your inside info)?
Let us all be thankful he's not a 747 captain.

Skol, this is getting out of hand. I know this was not terrorism. There are safeguards in place with multi-crew situations if he was a 747 captain. I know this guy personally as do a lot of other posters here and this is so out of character it is a real shock. As for not having a court case yet, the "sub judice" rule applies.

As for "the real deal"? I presume you mean a terrorist threat?

The response will be limited but you have to guage the threats on a risk basis. Is it more likely that a truck full of fertiliser is detonated (Oklahoma - Timothy McVea) than an a/c is used as a weapon (Sept 11)? A light a/c poses such a small risk that it is not deemed to be worth trying to combat. This is an ICAO decision not just my opinion. How could you combat a light a/c taking off from an airstrip somewhere? Aviation Security conferences have deemed that an a/c of a certain category are of sufficient risk that they need to be protected. An a/c weighing a couple of thousand pounds would not cause much of an issue. It is also a factor of momentum (The weight of the object and the speed it travels). Therefore there is upgraded security where jet a/c are concerned. You didn't aswer my question Skol. What would You have done if all the resources in the world were available to you?

This situation is a tragedy for the pilot not for anyone else. Let's not "talk this up" and make it more than what it is.

Whiteknuckle,
I notice you only registered yesterday, after this incident.


You DO NOT know this was not a terrorist attack because all the facts are not yet known and the matter is yet to come before the courts, so stop jumping the gun.
You say the a/c couldn't do much damage because it only weighed a couple of thousand pounds. Depends on the speed, as you say. What if it was a Fouga, say, or other light jet from Ardmore, single pilot, does that count?
They'll do a few hundred knots.
Your damage control exercise is strange to say the least, read Oz Ockers post above.
I said before that this deranged individual could have decided on a large public venue, maybe one softer than the Skytower. If force was necessary, then that's what's required, in order to protect the public interest, even if a small number need to perish to protect a far larger number.
I'm a multi crew pilot as you call it, tell us all about the safeguards in place. I don't know what you're talking about. Are you sure you're in the aviation business?

unfortunately for xxxxxx, it's nothing short of basic theft:

Crimes Act 1961

[219.Theft or stealing—

(1)Theft or stealing is the act of,—

(a)dishonestly and without claim of right, taking any property with intent to deprive any owner permanently of that property or of any interest in that property; or

(b)dishonestly and without claim of right, using or dealing with any property with intent to deprive any owner permanently of that property or of any interest in that property after obtaining possession of, or control over, the property in whatever manner.

(2)An intent to deprive any owner permanently of property includes an intent to deal with property in such a manner that—

(a)the property cannot be returned to any owner in the same condition; or

(b)any owner is likely to be permanently deprived of the property or of any interest in the property.

and basic threats:



[307A.Threats of harm to people or property—

(1)Everyone is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years if, without lawful justification or reasonable excuse, and intending to achieve the effect stated in subsection (2), he or she—

(a)threatens to do an act likely to have one or more of the results described in subsection (3); or

(b)communicates information—

(i)that purports to be about an act likely to have one or more of the results described in subsection (3); and

(ii)that he or she believes to be false.

(2)The effect is causing a significant disruption of one or more of the following things:

(a)the activities of the civilian population of New Zealand:

(b)something that is or forms part of an infrastructure facility in New Zealand:

(c)civil administration in New Zealand (whether administration undertaken by the Government of New Zealand or by institutions such as local authorities, District Health Boards, or boards of trustees of schools):

(d)commercial activity in New Zealand (whether commercial activity in general or commercial activity of a particular kind).


(3)The results are—

(a)creating a risk to the health of one or more people:


(b)causing major property damage:


(c)causing major economic loss to one or more persons:

(d)causing major damage to the national economy of New Zealand.