Tomohawk Trainer down in North Island
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Tomahawk Trainer down in North Island
Crash survivors critically injured - chopper pilot
By Edward Gay NZ Herald
6:02 PM Monday Jul 12, 2010
Two men are in a critical condition and "pretty banged up" after their plane collided with the side of a mountain in the Ruahine Ranges near Palmerston North this afternoon.
Square Trust Rescue Helicopter pilot Fergus MacLachlan said he was first called in at about 1pm after a beacon signal was picked up, which "usually turns out to be nothing".
But within five minutes, Mr McLachlan's crew spotted a light aircraft wedged between two trees on the side of a hill in rugged terrain.
"The two trees were the only thing that was holding them there," he said.
"When we first got there we saw one person waving. Once we saw that person waving, we knew at least one person was alive. Prior to that, we weren't so sure."
As a pilot, Mr McLachlan said it was always a relief to see a survivor "because it could be you one day".
Mr McLachlan decided to drop two crew members into a dry stream bed nearby because of the rugged terrain and likelihood of there being spilled fuel nearby.
He said the paramedic and other crew member had a 20-minute walk through scrub that was chest high.
Mr McLachlan said his helicopter winched one of the injured plane crew aboard and took him to hospital before calling for a second rescue helicopter.
Asked about the men's conditions, Mr McLachlan said they were "pretty banged up, with broken bones at least".
He said both men would have multiple fractures and were in a critical condition.
Rescue Coordination Centre search and rescue officer Chris Wilson said it appeared the plane had made a forced landing after encountering difficulties.
"The aircraft is relatively intact and it is belly-down, so in the correct position," she told Radio New Zealand.
"The rescue helicopter pilot said that the pilot of the light aircraft did a great job in getting the aircraft down so well in such steep country."
A 5km no-fly zone has been established around the crash site.
The Department of Labour has been informed and the Civil Aviation Authority is investigating.
- with NZPA
Last edited by dudduddud; 14th Jul 2010 at 07:44.
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Clearer image and updates here
'Amazing anyone alive' - national | Stuff.co.nz
'Amazing anyone alive' - national | Stuff.co.nz
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Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman Emma Peel said a team led by experienced investigator Steve Walker would begin its investigation today.
"They've got to get onto the scene and start looking at the terrain, and the position of aircraft in relation to the terrain, and whether there's skid marks on the snow," she said.
"They've got to get onto the scene and start looking at the terrain, and the position of aircraft in relation to the terrain, and whether there's skid marks on the snow," she said.
Our tax dollars hard at work...
It was either luck or skill that the plane had landed upright. Both men would have had control of it. "The student was saying, 'I have failed my check ride'."
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Does anyone know who the instructor is yet?
Hmmm yes I'm struggling to see any snow too. I'm a little skeptical when they say how well the student landed it - what instructor with 4 years experience would let their student land it?!
Hmmm yes I'm struggling to see any snow too. I'm a little skeptical when they say how well the student landed it - what instructor with 4 years experience would let their student land it?!
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Trainee pilot's parents tell of nightmare | Stuff.co.nz
The names of those involved in the above story...
The names of those involved in the above story...
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Much more to come, no engine failure, witness observed aircraft low level in valley. Wx apparently CAVU, what exercise involves low level in valley? especially in Commercial X country check flight. Who was demonstrating what to who?? Looks more like a semi controlled crash then any sort of landing.
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Simulated bad wx low flying that went wrong? A little bit of mountain flying that went wrong?
Two pilots with no recollection of events... ah well.
Sounds like the witness will be the only explanation!
Even so... "we must wait for the report"...
Two pilots with no recollection of events... ah well.
Sounds like the witness will be the only explanation!
Even so... "we must wait for the report"...
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It's part of the 'lost procedures' of the commercial cross-country. The student is blindfolded while the instructor flys low into a hilly area and tries to disorient the student. The blindfold is then removed and the student is required to find their location without going above a certain altitude, which usually keeps them pretty low in teh valley, or whatever.
It's a bit of valley flying, map reading and bad weather handling all rolled into one.
It's a bit of valley flying, map reading and bad weather handling all rolled into one.
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That must be the most stupid "exercise" I have ever heard of. The point is not to get yourself in that situation in the first place. Surely that is what should be being taught. I would imagine even very experienced aeroplane drivers faced with that situation, being blindfolded and led into the valley,of what? could embarass themselves very rapidly.
What happened in this case? they tried it with the instructor blindfolded to for a bit of reality??.
What happened in this case? they tried it with the instructor blindfolded to for a bit of reality??.
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More to the point - great weather around there last few days - why ever let it develop to the point where the only option was hitting trees? Surely the object of the exercise is aviate, navigate, communicate? Communication being optional in this case...
Not likely to be any wave Jaba, the lower North Island is in the grip of a nice fat high that has meant clear skies and no wind for the last three days...
Not likely to be any wave Jaba, the lower North Island is in the grip of a nice fat high that has meant clear skies and no wind for the last three days...
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I think that the exercise is a valid one. This is one of the areas where commercial imperatives may override common sense and no amount of preventitive training can truely combat that.
And I don't think these guys just fly down into any old valley. You'd think they'd take all the usual precautions for low flying like checking for wires, making sure there is a way out (before he flys too far up that skinny bit I'll get him to turn around, sort of thing). I guess sometimes you just get caught out.
And I don't think these guys just fly down into any old valley. You'd think they'd take all the usual precautions for low flying like checking for wires, making sure there is a way out (before he flys too far up that skinny bit I'll get him to turn around, sort of thing). I guess sometimes you just get caught out.
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What commercial imperative could ever overide common sense??
Is this valley where they ended up a designated low flying area?
If not what is the legal minimum altitude What should common sense tell you, especially in an overpowered two up Tomahawk, what your minimum altitude should be in mountainous, or even big hills terrain.
Is this valley where they ended up a designated low flying area?
If not what is the legal minimum altitude What should common sense tell you, especially in an overpowered two up Tomahawk, what your minimum altitude should be in mountainous, or even big hills terrain.
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Forget this overated mountain flying Hu Ha that we have all heard of in the past few months, and concentrate on Threat and Error mangement and of course good old common sense