Tourist dies in fall from helicopter
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Tourist dies in fall from helicopter
US tourist dies in fall from helicopter
22 May 2006
An American tourist fell 300m to his death after stepping out of a helicopter and plummeting down a steep bluff this afternoon in the Southern Alps before the horrified gaze of his hunting companions.
Constable Phil Vink from the Wanaka police said the middle-aged man was one of three hunters in a helicopter, which landed about 3pm on a ridge at Albert Burn, about 7km south of the head of Lake Wanaka – not at Albert Town, as was earlier reported.
"I believe one person had already jumped out of the helicopter, when this gentleman stepped down and somehow slipped and fell over the bluff," he said.
The pilot immediately flew down to where the man had fallen but was unable to land.
However, Mr Vink said those on board could clearly see the man was dead.
An alpine rescue team, including one police officer, flew to the area this afternoon in an attempt to retrieve the body, but bad weather stopped them from landing.
They will return tomorrow.
22 May 2006
An American tourist fell 300m to his death after stepping out of a helicopter and plummeting down a steep bluff this afternoon in the Southern Alps before the horrified gaze of his hunting companions.
Constable Phil Vink from the Wanaka police said the middle-aged man was one of three hunters in a helicopter, which landed about 3pm on a ridge at Albert Burn, about 7km south of the head of Lake Wanaka – not at Albert Town, as was earlier reported.
"I believe one person had already jumped out of the helicopter, when this gentleman stepped down and somehow slipped and fell over the bluff," he said.
The pilot immediately flew down to where the man had fallen but was unable to land.
However, Mr Vink said those on board could clearly see the man was dead.
An alpine rescue team, including one police officer, flew to the area this afternoon in an attempt to retrieve the body, but bad weather stopped them from landing.
They will return tomorrow.
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Fog hampers attempts to retrieve tourist's body
23 May 2006
Fog this morning delayed alpine rescue efforts to retrieve the body of an American tourist who fell 300m to his death after stepping out of a helicopter and plummeting down a steep bluff in the Southern Alps.
Wanaka Detective Derek Shaw an initial check by staff this morning decided it was too foggy to send out a rescue team.
Checks would continue to be made every half hour to evaluate whether it was safe to proceed,
The middle-aged man was one of three hunters in a helicopter, which landed about 3pm on a ridge at Albert Burn, about 7km south of the head of Lake Wanaka, yesterday afternoon.
One person had already jumped out of the helicopter, when the American stepped down and somehow slipped and fell over the bluff.
The pilot immediately flew down to where the man had fallen but was unable to land.
However, those on board could clearly see the man was dead.
An alpine rescue team, including one police officer, flew to the area yesterday in an attempt to retrieve the body, but bad weather stopped them from landing.
Mr Shaw said the dead man's family had wanted to contact their family in the United States about the death and had asked for no further assistance from the police.
23 May 2006
Fog this morning delayed alpine rescue efforts to retrieve the body of an American tourist who fell 300m to his death after stepping out of a helicopter and plummeting down a steep bluff in the Southern Alps.
Wanaka Detective Derek Shaw an initial check by staff this morning decided it was too foggy to send out a rescue team.
Checks would continue to be made every half hour to evaluate whether it was safe to proceed,
The middle-aged man was one of three hunters in a helicopter, which landed about 3pm on a ridge at Albert Burn, about 7km south of the head of Lake Wanaka, yesterday afternoon.
One person had already jumped out of the helicopter, when the American stepped down and somehow slipped and fell over the bluff.
The pilot immediately flew down to where the man had fallen but was unable to land.
However, those on board could clearly see the man was dead.
An alpine rescue team, including one police officer, flew to the area yesterday in an attempt to retrieve the body, but bad weather stopped them from landing.
Mr Shaw said the dead man's family had wanted to contact their family in the United States about the death and had asked for no further assistance from the police.
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New Zealand Herald report
Hunter slipped exiting helicopter
Wednesday May 24, 2006
The US tourist who plunged to his death after stepping out of a helicopter in the Southern Alps was the seventh foreigner to die this year while visiting national parks.
Police retrieved the body of Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, of New Hampshire, yesterday.
Mr Senter was killed when he tripped and fell down a steep bluff on Monday while chamois hunting near Lois Peak in the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Wanaka Search and Rescue coordinator, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, said Mr Senter had been in New Zealand for the past week on a hunting holiday, with his wife and two friends.
They had intended to travel to Australia yesterday.
Mr Senter, his friend and a local hunting guide had left Wanaka by helicopter about 2.30pm on Monday.
They spotted chamois in the head of the valley, and the pilot landed on a small flat outcrop.
However, when Mr Senter stepped out of the machine, he slipped and slid down the slope with no chance of holding his fall.
Low cloud and fog prevented a search and rescue team from reaching him on Monday night. A recovery team was deployed first thing yesterday and located his body at the base of the bluff in the afternoon.
He had sustained very serious head and body injuries. A post mortem examination would be done today.
Meanwhile, the dead man's wife was still in Wanaka, and was expecting family from the United States to join her shortly.
The case had been handed over to the coroner and police had also advised the Civil Aviation Authority.
Hunter slipped exiting helicopter
Wednesday May 24, 2006
The US tourist who plunged to his death after stepping out of a helicopter in the Southern Alps was the seventh foreigner to die this year while visiting national parks.
Police retrieved the body of Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, of New Hampshire, yesterday.
Mr Senter was killed when he tripped and fell down a steep bluff on Monday while chamois hunting near Lois Peak in the Mt Aspiring National Park.
Wanaka Search and Rescue coordinator, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, said Mr Senter had been in New Zealand for the past week on a hunting holiday, with his wife and two friends.
They had intended to travel to Australia yesterday.
Mr Senter, his friend and a local hunting guide had left Wanaka by helicopter about 2.30pm on Monday.
They spotted chamois in the head of the valley, and the pilot landed on a small flat outcrop.
However, when Mr Senter stepped out of the machine, he slipped and slid down the slope with no chance of holding his fall.
Low cloud and fog prevented a search and rescue team from reaching him on Monday night. A recovery team was deployed first thing yesterday and located his body at the base of the bluff in the afternoon.
He had sustained very serious head and body injuries. A post mortem examination would be done today.
Meanwhile, the dead man's wife was still in Wanaka, and was expecting family from the United States to join her shortly.
The case had been handed over to the coroner and police had also advised the Civil Aviation Authority.
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My Condolences
I have a number of thoughts about this. Without trying to 'out' myself, I was previously the Secretary of a State Deer Hunting Association and, of course, I'm a helicopter pilot. I have conducted heli-hunting trips.
How far do we take our briefings (without trying to blame the pilot)? How far do we brief a passenger before we land or after landing about a particular confined area or dangerous spot? How much do we test the dextrity of a passenger before we let them get themselves, gear and a rifle on and off a helicopter? Was age and experience a factor?
How much is plain bad luck when a bloke slips on a wet patch of ground? If there wasn't a helicopter involved, it would be easy to say it was just bad luck. But there is a helicopter involved. It could happen anywhere; heli-hunting, heli-skiing, heli-fishing...
Life is a risk. My condolences to the family,
and the pilot.
How far do we take our briefings (without trying to blame the pilot)? How far do we brief a passenger before we land or after landing about a particular confined area or dangerous spot? How much do we test the dextrity of a passenger before we let them get themselves, gear and a rifle on and off a helicopter? Was age and experience a factor?
How much is plain bad luck when a bloke slips on a wet patch of ground? If there wasn't a helicopter involved, it would be easy to say it was just bad luck. But there is a helicopter involved. It could happen anywhere; heli-hunting, heli-skiing, heli-fishing...
Life is a risk. My condolences to the family,
and the pilot.
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cy heli,
you can do all the breifing and practice you want with hunting clients, but sometimes you just can't help things!! there are always varibles in this kind of work. Most of the clients don't get there gear out now, that is done by the guide, as they should be very familiar with how to do this safely, (one would hope)
You are right when you say, How much is plain bad luck when a bloke slips on a wet patch of ground? If there wasn't a helicopter involved, it would be easy to say it was just bad luck. But there is a helicopter involved.
In this instance it is just straight out bad luck!!! even with a helicopter involved.
My thoughts anyway!!
we can only hope that these things never happen to us and it must be b
dy awful for all concerned and best of luck to them all!!!
you can do all the breifing and practice you want with hunting clients, but sometimes you just can't help things!! there are always varibles in this kind of work. Most of the clients don't get there gear out now, that is done by the guide, as they should be very familiar with how to do this safely, (one would hope)
You are right when you say, How much is plain bad luck when a bloke slips on a wet patch of ground? If there wasn't a helicopter involved, it would be easy to say it was just bad luck. But there is a helicopter involved.
In this instance it is just straight out bad luck!!! even with a helicopter involved.
My thoughts anyway!!
we can only hope that these things never happen to us and it must be b
dy awful for all concerned and best of luck to them all!!!
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.....
There was no way a United States tourist could have survived a 300m fall down a rocky bluff near Wanaka, police said yesterday.
American hunter Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, of New Hampshire, fell to his death when he left a helicopter and plunged down the bluff at Albert Burn, 6km north- east of Wanaka, at about 3pm on Monday.
Police retrieved his body yesterday.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka, said Senter, a friend, and a local hunting guide travelled to the area by helicopter on Monday afternoon and sighted chamois in the valley.
"The helicopter pilot positioned the party on a small outcrop so they could shoot the chamois and when Mr Senter exited the helicopter he slipped on the wet ground and started to slide down the slope with no chance of holding his fall," he said.
"It was clear the fall was not survivable as he had sustained very serious head and body injuries."
Alpine Cliff Rescue team leader Gary Dickson, who helped police retrieve the body yesterday, said the ledge was a reasonable landing spot for a helicopter but the ground nearby was mainly slippery rock with bits of tussock.
"It was an unfortunate accident," Dickson said. "Somehow he's slipped off there. When you do start sliding you've got no way of stopping yourself."
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said it was an unusual accident. The authority would investigate but it was not expected anybody would visit the site.
The authority hoped to clarify whether Senter slipped from the helicopter skid or the ground.
"Whenever there's an accident or incident like this the pilots will fill out a report form. We use that information and if we want anything further we go back to them," he said.
Senter's wife did not go out with the hunting party. Yesterday, she was still in Wanaka where she was expecting family from the United States to join her.
Low cloud and fog enveloped the valley on Monday, preventing police from reaching the body, but it was a straightforward operation yesterday, Dickson said.
Police officers were able to walk to Senter's body at the bottom of the bluff and connect it to a strop on the helicopter.
Digital photos had been taken of the scene, which would allow police to more accurately establish the distance of the fall.
American hunter Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, of New Hampshire, fell to his death when he left a helicopter and plunged down the bluff at Albert Burn, 6km north- east of Wanaka, at about 3pm on Monday.
Police retrieved his body yesterday.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka, said Senter, a friend, and a local hunting guide travelled to the area by helicopter on Monday afternoon and sighted chamois in the valley.
"The helicopter pilot positioned the party on a small outcrop so they could shoot the chamois and when Mr Senter exited the helicopter he slipped on the wet ground and started to slide down the slope with no chance of holding his fall," he said.
"It was clear the fall was not survivable as he had sustained very serious head and body injuries."
Alpine Cliff Rescue team leader Gary Dickson, who helped police retrieve the body yesterday, said the ledge was a reasonable landing spot for a helicopter but the ground nearby was mainly slippery rock with bits of tussock.
"It was an unfortunate accident," Dickson said. "Somehow he's slipped off there. When you do start sliding you've got no way of stopping yourself."
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said it was an unusual accident. The authority would investigate but it was not expected anybody would visit the site.
The authority hoped to clarify whether Senter slipped from the helicopter skid or the ground.
"Whenever there's an accident or incident like this the pilots will fill out a report form. We use that information and if we want anything further we go back to them," he said.
Senter's wife did not go out with the hunting party. Yesterday, she was still in Wanaka where she was expecting family from the United States to join her.
Low cloud and fog enveloped the valley on Monday, preventing police from reaching the body, but it was a straightforward operation yesterday, Dickson said.
Police officers were able to walk to Senter's body at the bottom of the bluff and connect it to a strop on the helicopter.
Digital photos had been taken of the scene, which would allow police to more accurately establish the distance of the fall.
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They keep calling this a Steep Bluff... How about a ****ing sheer cliff.. You can walk down a Steep Bluff.... 300 meter drop is another story.
Never hunted down there, but I dont think I want someone having me step out that close to a "Steep Bluff"
Never hunted down there, but I dont think I want someone having me step out that close to a "Steep Bluff"
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NZ Herald
Police still in doubt about how hunter fell to death
Thursday May 25, 2006
It is still not clear how American hunter Clifford Senter fell to his death in the Southern Alps.
Wanaka police are unable to confirm whether the 57-year-old slipped down a steep bluff as he left a helicopter or lost his footing after leaving the machine.
The Civil Aviation Authority has appointed Harold Carter to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mr Senter, from Plaistow, New Hampshire, fell 300m down a steep bluff while hunting for chamois after the helicopter had delivered his hunting party of three to a ledge in the Albert Burn Valley on Monday.
Detective Constable Derek Shaw, of Wanaka, said Mr Senter was the second member of the hunting party to leave the helicopter after guide Rachel Stewart, of Leithen Valley Trophy Hunts.
Mr Shaw said the police were still trying to find exactly where Mr Senter had fallen.
Witnesses would need to be questioned again before any recommendation could be made to the coroner.
Civil Aviation Authority communications adviser Bill Sommer said Mr Carter would conduct a routine investigation from Wellington focused on the standard accident form filled out by operators after any flying accident.
Mountain guide Gary Dickson, said the ledge was a normal drop-off area.
Police still in doubt about how hunter fell to death
Thursday May 25, 2006
It is still not clear how American hunter Clifford Senter fell to his death in the Southern Alps.
Wanaka police are unable to confirm whether the 57-year-old slipped down a steep bluff as he left a helicopter or lost his footing after leaving the machine.
The Civil Aviation Authority has appointed Harold Carter to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mr Senter, from Plaistow, New Hampshire, fell 300m down a steep bluff while hunting for chamois after the helicopter had delivered his hunting party of three to a ledge in the Albert Burn Valley on Monday.
Detective Constable Derek Shaw, of Wanaka, said Mr Senter was the second member of the hunting party to leave the helicopter after guide Rachel Stewart, of Leithen Valley Trophy Hunts.
Mr Shaw said the police were still trying to find exactly where Mr Senter had fallen.
Witnesses would need to be questioned again before any recommendation could be made to the coroner.
Civil Aviation Authority communications adviser Bill Sommer said Mr Carter would conduct a routine investigation from Wellington focused on the standard accident form filled out by operators after any flying accident.
Mountain guide Gary Dickson, said the ledge was a normal drop-off area.
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Originally Posted by ZK-Pilot
With you Davey. Pretty unfair advantage using a helo for hunting.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said it was an unusual accident. The authority would investigate but it was not expected anybody would visit the site.
The authority hoped to clarify whether Senter slipped from the helicopter skid or the ground.
"Whenever there's an accident or incident like this the pilots will fill out a report form. We use that information and if we want anything further we go back to them," he said.
The authority hoped to clarify whether Senter slipped from the helicopter skid or the ground.
"Whenever there's an accident or incident like this the pilots will fill out a report form. We use that information and if we want anything further we go back to them," he said.
"I say Neville, bit of bother that, be the good chap and send us a postcard will ya?"
Someone gets killed....and you don't go to the site to see what it looks like and compare that site inspection to the accounts given by the participants?
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Skid biters vicious hand bagging
Slowdown there skid biter, return the catch on that handbag of yours sure deer recovery started a lot of operations; some would say (me included) that today we now have a hangover from that day (i.e. to many operators fighting for too little work, helicopter rates in the toilet with pilots working for 5/8ths of f%#k all). While I agree that every opportunity should be taken to kill deer in the wild (in NZ) I have myself taken hunting trips in where we drop the hunter (or so called) and a guide on a knoll and then I fly off and literally muster the animal towards the hunter. Once I am out of the way and the animal is running towards the ambush as significant speed the ‘hunter’ takes the shot. No very sporting eh ‘old chap’
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Skidbiter-be nice
Originally Posted by skidbiter
If it was not for venison recovery/ live capture/ flying punters into inaccessable areas for a shot, many operators within the industry would not exist, you dumb fixed-wing tosser.
Sounds like trying to prove how big your donga is (or isn't) to me.Fixed wing yes.... But mainly twin rotary these days
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Flying Lawyer.
My point was not meant to be cheap or contemptuous.
The point is, anyone so determined to spend time, money and so much effort to kill any animal should either be better equipped, better trained or be prepared to take whatever comes their way.
My point was not meant to be cheap or contemptuous.
The point is, anyone so determined to spend time, money and so much effort to kill any animal should either be better equipped, better trained or be prepared to take whatever comes their way.
skidbiter,
in the most european countries hunting with helicopters, means shooting from the helicopter or herding animals to the shooters or traps is strictly prohibited because of hunting and not aerial laws!
in the most european countries hunting with helicopters, means shooting from the helicopter or herding animals to the shooters or traps is strictly prohibited because of hunting and not aerial laws!
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bell hater,
i do agree with you on the remarks about skidbiter, the good ol venison days did bring the industry to life in nz, and there are now a s tload of operators and bugger all work and people working for f all as you say!!
but there is also a big market at the moment in doing these types of hunts for clients, i have done them and they are great fun flying wise, but they aren't very sporting but sometimes money is money,you know obviously what it is like if you have done them before, the biggest concern is to get miles away before they start blazzing at the animal and there is lead flying in every direction apart from where the animal actually is!!
There are no laws prohibiting the hunting of animals form helicopters in nz, but somehow i think after this incident that something might change that, if you actually work out the number of people going out there and doing that kind of hunting compared to the amount of incidents then there is actually f all incidents!!!
i do agree with you on the remarks about skidbiter, the good ol venison days did bring the industry to life in nz, and there are now a s
tload of operators and bugger all work and people working for f all as you say!! but there is also a big market at the moment in doing these types of hunts for clients, i have done them and they are great fun flying wise, but they aren't very sporting but sometimes money is money,you know obviously what it is like if you have done them before, the biggest concern is to get miles away before they start blazzing at the animal and there is lead flying in every direction apart from where the animal actually is!!
There are no laws prohibiting the hunting of animals form helicopters in nz, but somehow i think after this incident that something might change that, if you actually work out the number of people going out there and doing that kind of hunting compared to the amount of incidents then there is actually f all incidents!!!