Ag plane crash
 

Anyone hear anything about an ag plane crashing at Hyden in WA today?

Sad news
 

It appears to be the pilot of a cropduster aircraft that has been killed. Westside Aerial Services are the primary operator in that region.
Westside lost a pilot of an Air Tractor 502 (VH-ODP) when he hit a tree whilst cropdusting just over 4 yrs ago, about 140 kms WSW of this current crash site.

Plane crashes in Hyden - The West Australian

http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/3147585/ao2009060.pdf

Oz check PM

The media is reporting the pilot is believed to be a 51 yr old man from Victoria.

Crop dusting pilot dies in crash - The West Australian

Now, here's a curious twist. Gerald Repacholi has advised the media that the pilot (who was working for an aerial ag operation that competes with Repacholi Aviation in the same area) was flying "erratically" and "recklessly" (the precise media wording) over the area just prior to the crash. Hmmm .... :rolleyes:

RIP Tony.

I remember you way back in the early days in Hamilton & Warrnambool.

Manu...

RIP mate
 

Rest in peace TC. I'll miss listening to one of your many stories whilst waiting for a dispatch!

Mac.

Rest in peace Tony
 

Thanks for your help and friendship many moons ago mate.
One of the nice guys in GA.

Rest In Peace Tony

Mark

ayres thrush crash
 

well well people do believe the media,, the ground staff had said the pilot was doing excessively tight turns , ( laying rubber ? )
in fact you don't need to do So WHAT happened
did he stall, heart attack, malfunction on the aircraft ????
aircraft went nose down, very steep( stall ) flipped over onto its back skidding 30 metres
now the other operator has 11 ag in WA +5 passenger + 2 AT 802,
2 Thrush's fire bombing in the U.S.A. ,,So what if another operator is in the area , he's no competition
So lets not hide behind the shower curtins :ugh::mad:

Bummer, thanks for the lifts out to the airport and the chats, stories and advice while sitting round on standby.

A total gentleman RIP.

I didn't know this bloke but I feel rather sad that another pilot has gone. Over the years I have met a loads of pilots. Ag pilots along with experienced rotary wing jockeys are always the pilots I get along with best and have most in common with. Both are true stick and rudder (cyclic and collective :)) pilots.

Fly well bro and apologies for the thread drift back at #13

Rest in peace Tony.

Ag Pilots
 

We all know that in Ag flying accidents will happen and it is a place for skilled Pilots and those of us that have done it are careful but no matter how careful you are **** always hit the fan and when it does it is not pleasant
many young Pilots have said I can do it yes but to worka plane low level and with precision takes years of experience

Sad event
 

Apparently Tony said he was going to get married when he got back, and would have a honeymoon before the fire season started.
The week before at the aero club in Hamilton he said he really did not want to go to WA, it was only for the money to get married..

Hey onetrack, That crash your talking about with VH-ODP is in the Aerial Application Pilots Manual as a case study. Good reading.