The article initially said she was caught in a downdraught.


Maybe the pilot of the Sapphire was trying to warn the skiier that there was a fresh-water shark right behind him?

That defence would almost stand up if it was in the ocean.

Unless the photo was of the actual forced landing. Unlikely, but possible. Could have been having a bit of fun at 500' when the engine quit leaving not many options.

Or is it suggested it flew into the water with an operable engine?

Problem is it isn't just one photo, click on the link above and you'll see a slideshow of what appears to be at least one low pass, followed by a pull up and turn away.

Sad thing is that is the sort of behaviour you'd expect of a teenager on a dirt bike, not a mature aged pilot. I'd certainly want a word with old mate if it were my boat and family that he buzzed.

Hmmm, good point.
How things are different when they are not the same.

I used to have fun on a ferris wheel but that's no fun these days either.:bored:

Have seen the sequence now after not being able to earlier. The last image looks out of place, different zoom and the aircraft turning the other direction, but the second to last one with a slight pull up and turn is a little damning. Hope for the pilots sake it can be shown that it was part of the forced landing, otherwise I'd say he's done!

A Forced landing? Into a lake, directly behind and over a speedboat, with significant manoeuvring. Done for enough time for someone to get a phone out and take photos and then lie to the media to make it sound like the pilot was reckless?

Sure. Sounds plausible. No such thing as an idiot with a pilots license.

This might be the one occasion where we can all safely make an assumption on what happened and not be wrong.... no input from Planky required.

He "later" crashed in the Lake, not during the photo sequence. Draw your own conclusions on that one. Looked like he was having fun, but you'd have to think if you were going to do that yourself that you wouldn't do it to some random ski boat versus some mate of yours!!!

Was just putting it out there as a remote possibility. Agree it's highly unlikely, even more so after a second look.

This can never be regulated out of existence, for the simple fact, man has an adrenalin system and an ego. It's the same reason people ride motorbikes fast, it's a buzz, simple. The only way it will ever stop is by banning aircraft altogether. Just google low flying, it's not uncommon, in everything from sapphires to 777's.

I assume that the Sapphire pilot will be prosecuted by CASA with the full force of the law.

Splash...
 

Happened up north too, buzzing boats and fell into the water. :=

And altho it got a lot of publicity in the local rag..you know, all the usual dramatizations," kids screaming, people crying in fear" of the buzzer, CASA declined to be involved....RAA's balliwick.

As RA-Aus don't have the powers to impose financial charges / fines / burden onto the Pilot (other than taking un-precedented court action), they will refer this to CASA to take action. Remember that the pilot has broken the CAO's & CAR's and not a specific RA-Aus rule, so he's under the full juristiction of CASA.

I'm all for "fun" in aircraft and may have seen some similar behaviours before or possibly been a little bit too close to the action :oh:, however as these were complete strangers, I think he may have gone a little too far!

Of course it was.....:ugh: The lake is around 500AMSL, Albury is 547'.

This bloke is surely in deep guano :\


Yeah right....swallowed 2L of petrol, he may have swallowed some water with a small fuel content, which would be unpleasant, but if you swallow large amounts of raw fuel you would not be talking to the media. When or if the cops findings show a positive BAC is he going to claim that it was from using E10 fuel? :}

I'm trying to look at all positions here but can't come up with an acceptable reason/ excuse/ lack of intent.

Holbrook is 875' AMSL so even if he had QFE set, the Dam at say 550' (Albury is 547'),he can't even use this as a mitigation.

However given CASA's usual response in only prosecuting innocent party's, I can't see this bloke copping anything except non renewal of his RA-Aus membership which is the De-facto administrative action open to them and this effectively grounds him.

On the subject of intent, I thought this was the first test to ascertain if a criminal offence had taken place. All aviation strict liability offence's are criminal offence's, it would be pretty hard for him to prove otherwise.

But again that doesn't bother CASA as they are not model litagents.:hmm:

Suggestion in the media that he did/does not hold a valid licence. :hmm:

The pilot was unlicenced.

Therefore he was not flying under the juristiction of RA-Aus.

He will now face the full force of CASA for (recklessly?) flying an unregistered aircraft with no licence.

Jail threat for 'unlicensed' lake crash pilot - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

2 years potentially by default as Steve T says. Ouch.

Observations;

1) It's a single seater. I guess that escaped the media reporter.
2) RA-Aus have washed their hands of any responsibility.
3) The GA "cowboys" will have a field day with the RA-Aus "cowboys".
4) Probably here on PPRune if it is left to go that way.
5) The incident does nothing to enhance the public perception of ALL light aircraft.

6) CASA will attend to this matter without bringing up old mates who have flown without licences or registrations and got away with it. (yes they have skeletons).

Personally I'm ambivalent to the outcome, but I will follow it with interest.

Zero Brains + Zero Altitude = Zero Chance.

Who the hell does this guy think he is by deliberately putting innocent lives at risk! Now we find out from Tizz that he has no valid certificate or rego!

He deserves to lose his freedom with a couple of months in the Pokey.

DB