Air West Coast
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Air West Coast
Heard a rumour that these guys had an upset with one of their PA31's. Something about short (very short!!) gravel strip, at night possibly ending up in some sort of water based vegetation???
Anyone else heard the same??
Maybe the bretheren are being punished for something?
S2K
Anyone else heard the same??
Maybe the bretheren are being punished for something?
S2K
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airwest coast ding
According to the local paper the twin was low flying to aviod low cloud and then took the senic route and hit the water,pilot ok. From what I can understand they do like to push the limits so what. Maybe its a "faith" thing
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After a news google found this.
Plane crash in West Coast
09 June 2006
An Air West Coast passenger plane crash-landed on the shore of a West Coast lake yesterday afternoon after a wing clipped the lake surface.
The pilot of the twin-engined nine-seater Piper Navajo Chieftain, who was flying alone, escaped uninjured and the plane was slightly damage.
The incident happened at Lake Haupiri, about 50km inland from Greymouth.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said the pilot appeared to have struck problems with low cloud before the accident.
A wing of the aircraft clipped the surface of the lake, he said.
"He ended up putting the aircraft down on the lake shore."
Air West Coast had a private airstrip near the lake where aircraft maintenance was carried out, he said.
The aircraft was same make and type as the plane that crashed near Christchurch in 2003, killing pilot Michael Bannerman and seven Crop and Food Research staff.
Mr Sommer said a full investigation would be carried out on yesterday's crash.
Plane crash in West Coast
09 June 2006
An Air West Coast passenger plane crash-landed on the shore of a West Coast lake yesterday afternoon after a wing clipped the lake surface.
The pilot of the twin-engined nine-seater Piper Navajo Chieftain, who was flying alone, escaped uninjured and the plane was slightly damage.
The incident happened at Lake Haupiri, about 50km inland from Greymouth.
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said the pilot appeared to have struck problems with low cloud before the accident.
A wing of the aircraft clipped the surface of the lake, he said.
"He ended up putting the aircraft down on the lake shore."
Air West Coast had a private airstrip near the lake where aircraft maintenance was carried out, he said.
The aircraft was same make and type as the plane that crashed near Christchurch in 2003, killing pilot Michael Bannerman and seven Crop and Food Research staff.
Mr Sommer said a full investigation would be carried out on yesterday's crash.
I had heard they are having trouble filling the Cheif Pilot role (and a few others) to make the Part 125 Certification requirements to operate the new 228. Either sitting idle or only flying with 9 pax at a time...
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Something you have never done eh, Haughtney1
Oh and just so you know 27/09, Ive lost 4 good friends to stupid preventable GA accidents in NZ.....so I have a reasonable basis from which to voice my opinion, how about you?
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The things we do... Very lucky boy indeed, not many people get away with dragging a wing tip across a lake. G.A pilots do tend to push the rules but this champion kicked them out of the park. He really will be a greatful cheftain driver.
They can have as many "wives" as they want but remember boys, its quality not quantity that counts.
They can have as many "wives" as they want but remember boys, its quality not quantity that counts.
Haughtney1
I to have a reasonable basis to voice my opinion, and suspect probably at least as good if not better basis than the average pilot on here.
I think you missed my point. People in glass houses should not throw stones. I would venture to suggest that there is not one pilot on here that has not pushed the envelope in some way or other at some stage of their flying, sadly in some cases some didn't even realise that they were pushing the envelope at the time.
I don't believe that any pilot deliberately sets out to endanger his passengers, him/herself, or their aircraft. However I have had to ground pilots for doing stupid or silly things that either endangered other people or themselves. I bet the dangers didn't occur to them when they did these silly things. I too have been to to funerals of friends lost on GA accidents.
I would also suggest that what one person may consider to be within the envelope others may consider to be outside the envelope.
To finish, your comment seemed to me, to show very much a "holier than thou" attitude. If you can truely hold your hand on your heart and say you have never pushed the envelope then I apologise.
so I have a reasonable basis from which to voice my opinion, how about you?
I think you missed my point. People in glass houses should not throw stones. I would venture to suggest that there is not one pilot on here that has not pushed the envelope in some way or other at some stage of their flying, sadly in some cases some didn't even realise that they were pushing the envelope at the time.
I don't believe that any pilot deliberately sets out to endanger his passengers, him/herself, or their aircraft. However I have had to ground pilots for doing stupid or silly things that either endangered other people or themselves. I bet the dangers didn't occur to them when they did these silly things. I too have been to to funerals of friends lost on GA accidents.
I would also suggest that what one person may consider to be within the envelope others may consider to be outside the envelope.
To finish, your comment seemed to me, to show very much a "holier than thou" attitude. If you can truely hold your hand on your heart and say you have never pushed the envelope then I apologise.
Last edited by 27/09; 18th Jun 2006 at 09:08.
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To finish, your comment seemed to me, to show very much a "holier than thou" attitude. If you can truely hold your hand on your heart and say you have never pushed the envelope then I apologise.
It riles me beyond belief when I read stories about small operators doing dangerous and stupid things, (far be for me to pre-judge things..but I think you get my drift) because they have limits that dont appear legal.
The whole point of limits is to ensure the safety and security of operators and passengers alike...if they need to be bent or pushed..then they have no business being in business.
As for being "holier than thou" no Im human...
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Haughtney1
"Damn right, I know my limititations, and as Im a decidedly average pilot, I wouldnt have got to where I am otherwise."
Isnt this called experience....living through your own not-so-good choices and learning from watching others choices too.
The biggest problem with GA is the low level of experience in most operations. GA operators are normally tighter for cash and have to deal with all the newbie pilots from the schools who see GA as a 12 month ticket to an airline job.
These pilots are doing harder flying than the highly experienced airline pilot in his 73 with their FMCs, masses of power and another experienced pilot beside him keeping an eye on him.
You are right though...passengers deserve the very best level of safety and security that can be provided.
What is the answer to the GA problem......
"Damn right, I know my limititations, and as Im a decidedly average pilot, I wouldnt have got to where I am otherwise."
Isnt this called experience....living through your own not-so-good choices and learning from watching others choices too.
The biggest problem with GA is the low level of experience in most operations. GA operators are normally tighter for cash and have to deal with all the newbie pilots from the schools who see GA as a 12 month ticket to an airline job.
These pilots are doing harder flying than the highly experienced airline pilot in his 73 with their FMCs, masses of power and another experienced pilot beside him keeping an eye on him.
You are right though...passengers deserve the very best level of safety and security that can be provided.
What is the answer to the GA problem......
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These pilots are doing harder flying than the highly experienced airline pilot in his 73 with their FMCs, masses of power and another experienced pilot beside him keeping an eye on him.
You are right though...passengers deserve the very best level of safety and security that can be provided.
What is the answer to the GA problem......
You are right though...passengers deserve the very best level of safety and security that can be provided.
What is the answer to the GA problem......
How do we do this?...simple..the CAA needs to become a regulator again, rather than just the toothless facilitator it represents itself to be at the moment.
I earnt my "spurs/experience" in GA in NZ and Oz and I was fortunate enough to operate with one particular individual who taught me more about personal limitations than any legal document could convey...the point being that this person came from an airline environment back into GA...so there is experience about, the question is...will anyone be listening?
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Oh my god it's like a scratched CD on this subject lately. People will always push the limits. Let yourself not be one of these munters. Get over it people.
Faithful Christian the 3rd
Faithful Christian the 3rd
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Haughtney1
I was refering to the Single Pilot IFR flying that is done at this level of GA as being more difficult. In particular with old aircraft, less-than-perfect avionics and low time pilots. This flying certainly is the pilot melting pot and having been there and done it I know it has its challenges.
It does however put good experience and calibre into the pilots being recruited by the airlines. This experience is valued by the recruiters.
I agree too that the CAA could be far more active and thus useful to operators to improve safety and conformance to industry standards and regulations.
When I was in GA I had some excellent mentoring from ex and current airline pilots who passed on very good advise on personal standards and limitations that is not taught in the schools or during training. It just needs to be more widespread throughout the industry......
I was refering to the Single Pilot IFR flying that is done at this level of GA as being more difficult. In particular with old aircraft, less-than-perfect avionics and low time pilots. This flying certainly is the pilot melting pot and having been there and done it I know it has its challenges.
It does however put good experience and calibre into the pilots being recruited by the airlines. This experience is valued by the recruiters.
I agree too that the CAA could be far more active and thus useful to operators to improve safety and conformance to industry standards and regulations.
When I was in GA I had some excellent mentoring from ex and current airline pilots who passed on very good advise on personal standards and limitations that is not taught in the schools or during training. It just needs to be more widespread throughout the industry......
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Sqwark2000
Just to straighten the record....heard from an accurate source that the 'strip' was 800 m and sealed. Of course no prob for a PA31. The pilot took off before ECT and did end up 'in some sort of water based vegetation'
There was also some marginal wx involved......
Heard a rumour that these guys had an upset with one of their PA31's. Something about short (very short!!) gravel strip, at night possibly ending up in some sort of water based vegetation???
There was also some marginal wx involved......