Crash near Harrogate, UK: January 2008
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Just read this
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Two dead after helicopter crash
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Two dead after helicopter crash
Two people have died in a helicopter crash at a golf resort near Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
Police, fire and ambulance services were called to attend the scene in woodland at Rudding Park - a luxury hotel and golf resort - at 1630 GMT.
The victims, a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman, both from the West Yorkshire area, are thought to have died instantly, police said.
The helicopter had just taken off when it crashed.
The fire service said the area was searched for other casualties but no-one else was found.
An investigation has been launched by the police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
Weather forecasters said there had been high winds in the area earlier, which had subsided by the time of the crash but conditions were still gusty.
Police say the deceased, who were pronounced dead at the scene, were due to be formally identified on Monday.
Insp Tad Nowakowski, of North Yorkshire Police said their bodies would be removed from the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday.
"The helicopter is in the middle of a small wood," he said.
"We understand they had just left Rudding Park Hotel. The two people are from the West Yorkshire area, the helicopter is a private helicopter.
"My thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends.
"It would appear to be a really tragic incident and our job now is to try and establish the cause, which will take some time."
A private function at the 2,000 acre hotel and resort, which was recently named the 12th most luxurious in the world, has still gone ahead.
Former guests have included former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior, former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, of South Africa.
The landlord of a nearby pub said flights over the hotel, which has an 18-hole Championship golf course, occurred daily.
Police, fire and ambulance services were called to attend the scene in woodland at Rudding Park - a luxury hotel and golf resort - at 1630 GMT.
The victims, a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman, both from the West Yorkshire area, are thought to have died instantly, police said.
The helicopter had just taken off when it crashed.
The fire service said the area was searched for other casualties but no-one else was found.
An investigation has been launched by the police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
Weather forecasters said there had been high winds in the area earlier, which had subsided by the time of the crash but conditions were still gusty.
Police say the deceased, who were pronounced dead at the scene, were due to be formally identified on Monday.
Insp Tad Nowakowski, of North Yorkshire Police said their bodies would be removed from the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday.
"The helicopter is in the middle of a small wood," he said.
"We understand they had just left Rudding Park Hotel. The two people are from the West Yorkshire area, the helicopter is a private helicopter.
"My thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends.
"It would appear to be a really tragic incident and our job now is to try and establish the cause, which will take some time."
A private function at the 2,000 acre hotel and resort, which was recently named the 12th most luxurious in the world, has still gone ahead.
Former guests have included former US presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior, former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, of South Africa.
The landlord of a nearby pub said flights over the hotel, which has an 18-hole Championship golf course, occurred daily.
gazelle just delivered today . Pilot wisely took safety pilot with him to the accident site and was last seen tying it down . Sounds like he couldnt resist having a play later on. New ppl with 46 hrs . Wind at a guess gusting 50 kn.
I have name but will not post until public. Not implying weather was a factor but with a mere 1,000 + hrs and 500 on type i would not have been up there today. Tragic.
I have name but will not post until public. Not implying weather was a factor but with a mere 1,000 + hrs and 500 on type i would not have been up there today. Tragic.
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crash,
i'm very sorry for was has happened,
but when will pilots, use the local atis,
the gusting with was high in yorkshire today,
and most pilots with high hrs would not go out,
as you all know wind is ok but high gusts
are a different thing,
but when will pilots, use the local atis,
the gusting with was high in yorkshire today,
and most pilots with high hrs would not go out,
as you all know wind is ok but high gusts
are a different thing,
I was flying in East Yorkshire today and to say it was too windy for low time PPL's is an understatement. It was less windy than yesterday but still not good. I was watching a groundspeed of 202kts (2000' wind was only 235/68!!) most of my flight, one way of course. What the hell is wrong with people? Are some of the people who teach ppl's these days not pushing the message across hard enough about flying in bad wx, that includes strong winds, or is it something else? Looks like the accident season has started, reading the threads today.
Tragic that TWO people died.
RIP
Tragic that TWO people died.
RIP
I think that if i had been the safety pilot i would have strongly advised no solo flying in any kind of weather . ( and i am sure that he did do just that )
46 hrs of flying does not prepare you for flying in these conditions IMHO.
RIP
in fact i think the wind was stronger today than yesterday . We were out shooting on the hill both days and today you could not stand up when on top.
Maybe new licences should have restrictions just like solo flying when training ? What if you do all your training in good calm weather ...you could then find that your first ever flight in severe turbulence is solo . Sad there was not an experienced pilot around at the time to advise against the flight.
I am told 46 hrs was total time heli but he had fixed wing experience.
46 hrs of flying does not prepare you for flying in these conditions IMHO.
RIP
in fact i think the wind was stronger today than yesterday . We were out shooting on the hill both days and today you could not stand up when on top.
Maybe new licences should have restrictions just like solo flying when training ? What if you do all your training in good calm weather ...you could then find that your first ever flight in severe turbulence is solo . Sad there was not an experienced pilot around at the time to advise against the flight.
I am told 46 hrs was total time heli but he had fixed wing experience.
Can't agree more Nigel. Pity we couldn't arrange a night for helicopter FI's/ ppl's/cpl's/ anyone interested in heli's to meet up in Yorkshire area etc. Talk about wx, accidents, do's and dont's of flying, what we all learned on the path to our present positions, plus any questions along the way, and in a relaxed atmosphere. I found the FI seminars were ok for FI's but the most I learned not in the air was during my nights out on an arranged evening every two weeks, in Newcastle, over beers etc with a common theme, heli's, and people of all levels coming along and being able to ask questions without the worry of looking stupid in front of their peers.
So many pointless deaths! A bloody shame.
So many pointless deaths! A bloody shame.
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when has any child at xmas ever taken any notice of when you can play with toys when they are there to be played with?.... terrible shame - eagerness and excitement looks like it cost him +1 their lives - very sad and sensless...
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My feelings are obviously with those involved but spare a thought for the FE who passed someone at minimum hours who makes the news on there first trip. very sad.
Some students are bad, some very good and some you swear are learning somewhere else on the side. Experience however is a very diffrent attribute.
Some students are bad, some very good and some you swear are learning somewhere else on the side. Experience however is a very diffrent attribute.
the unfortunate point is a child won't kill himself and another innocent party if he plays with 'toys' at xmas.
This was an expensive aircraft requiring the necessary skill and sense to operate it, neither of which were shown.
This was an expensive aircraft requiring the necessary skill and sense to operate it, neither of which were shown.