Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:36 amhttp://www.stuff.co.nz/4404898a6000.html
QUOTE
LATEST: A light plane and a helicopter have crashed after colliding in mid-air above Paraparaumu, north of Wellington this morning.
Did you witness the collision? Email us information or photos or call 0800 366 767
It is understood two people from the helicopter were killed.
The collision appeared to occur above the Placemakers store about 11.15am. It is understood the crippled helicopter crashed into Placemakers and the light aircraft came down over Dennis Taylor Court, narrowly missing a house.
It is believed no customers or staff at the hardware store were injured.
It has been reported that the plane's pilot, the sole occupant, was alive when he was pulled from the wreckage. One eye witness told NZPA the pilot was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Eyewitness Anne Russell said she was watching the aircraft and thought they were getting too close to each other.
"Then the left wing of the plane heading west toward the airport clipped the tail of the helicopter that was heading south - broke the wing off the plane which spun to the ground. The chopper seemed to carry on in a straight line for a brief moment, then plummeted straight down to the ground at high speed.
"The scream of the chopper falling will haunt me for a while."
Emergency services from Wellington to Otaki are responding en masse to the crash, which is understood to have also caused serious injuries.
Inspector Steve Darroch from Wellington Police said police were dealing with two separate crash scenes.
Police were yet to determine how many people were on the plane and helicopter.
Firefighters, ambulance staff and police were at the scene.
- with NZPA[/quote]
Did you witness the collision? Email us information or photos or call 0800 366 767
It is understood two people from the helicopter were killed.
The collision appeared to occur above the Placemakers store about 11.15am. It is understood the crippled helicopter crashed into Placemakers and the light aircraft came down over Dennis Taylor Court, narrowly missing a house.
It is believed no customers or staff at the hardware store were injured.
It has been reported that the plane's pilot, the sole occupant, was alive when he was pulled from the wreckage. One eye witness told NZPA the pilot was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Eyewitness Anne Russell said she was watching the aircraft and thought they were getting too close to each other.
"Then the left wing of the plane heading west toward the airport clipped the tail of the helicopter that was heading south - broke the wing off the plane which spun to the ground. The chopper seemed to carry on in a straight line for a brief moment, then plummeted straight down to the ground at high speed.
"The scream of the chopper falling will haunt me for a while."
Emergency services from Wellington to Otaki are responding en masse to the crash, which is understood to have also caused serious injuries.
Inspector Steve Darroch from Wellington Police said police were dealing with two separate crash scenes.
Police were yet to determine how many people were on the plane and helicopter.
Firefighters, ambulance staff and police were at the scene.
- with NZPA[/quote]
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:07 pmRIP to the guys killed and thoughts with there familys ,man that is just what i didnt want to hear today ..really weird that they where so close at the same height
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:13 pmQUOTE
RIP to the guys killed and thoughts with there familys ,man that is just what i didnt want to hear today ..really weird that they where so close at the same height[/quote]
Just heard on the radio that 1 person from the helicopter died, and the other was rushed to hospital.
But yes, RIP and may God be with the family's
Just heard on the radio that 1 person from the helicopter died, and the other was rushed to hospital.
But yes, RIP and may God be with the family's
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:55 pmMore details
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4404910a10.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4404910a10.html
QUOTE
The two were on the crippled helicopter that crashed into the Placemakers building, a police spokesman said.
Nobody else inside the building was hurt.
The plane crashed onto Dennis Taylor Court, a cul-de-sac near Placemakers, narrowly missing a house.
The pilot, the sole occupant, was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The Placemakers building is about 200 metres from the runway at Paraparaumu Airport.
The collision, at about 11.15am, resulted in two crash scenes attended by six fire trucks, police and ambulances.
Eyewitness Anne Russell said she was watching the aircraft and thought they were getting too close to each other.
"Then the left wing of the plane heading west toward the airport clipped the tail of the helicopter that was heading south - broke the wing off the plane which spun to the ground. The chopper seemed to carry on in a straight line for a brief moment, then plummeted straight down to the ground at high speed.
"The scream of the chopper falling will haunt me for a while."
Witnesses said there was no sign of fire at either crash site.
The helicopter was owned by Helipro, one of the country's largest helicopter operators.
Company spokesperson John Read said it is not yet clear what happened.
"Our sole focus at the moment is looking after our people."
Ben Magee, 18, a surf lifesaver from Australia vacactioning in New Zealand, old Radio New Zealand he helped free the pilot.
He described seeing the engine come apart from the aircraft in mid-air, and watching the rest of the plane spiral to the street, where it landed upside down.
Leaping two fences to reach the plane, he saw the young pilot suspended from seatbelts, unable to speak and with blood on his face.
He cut him loose with a knife provided by a resident in the street.
"The plane was upside down and there was a young guy in there, probably about 20-23yrs. When I first got there he was not moving but I could hear him breathing.
"I asked him what his name was but he was not answering. He was quashed."
Mr Magee said residents of the street wielded hoses to keep leaking fuel away from the wreckage till the pilot was safely removed.[/quote]
Nobody else inside the building was hurt.
The plane crashed onto Dennis Taylor Court, a cul-de-sac near Placemakers, narrowly missing a house.
The pilot, the sole occupant, was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The Placemakers building is about 200 metres from the runway at Paraparaumu Airport.
The collision, at about 11.15am, resulted in two crash scenes attended by six fire trucks, police and ambulances.
Eyewitness Anne Russell said she was watching the aircraft and thought they were getting too close to each other.
"Then the left wing of the plane heading west toward the airport clipped the tail of the helicopter that was heading south - broke the wing off the plane which spun to the ground. The chopper seemed to carry on in a straight line for a brief moment, then plummeted straight down to the ground at high speed.
"The scream of the chopper falling will haunt me for a while."
Witnesses said there was no sign of fire at either crash site.
The helicopter was owned by Helipro, one of the country's largest helicopter operators.
Company spokesperson John Read said it is not yet clear what happened.
"Our sole focus at the moment is looking after our people."
Ben Magee, 18, a surf lifesaver from Australia vacactioning in New Zealand, old Radio New Zealand he helped free the pilot.
He described seeing the engine come apart from the aircraft in mid-air, and watching the rest of the plane spiral to the street, where it landed upside down.
Leaping two fences to reach the plane, he saw the young pilot suspended from seatbelts, unable to speak and with blood on his face.
He cut him loose with a knife provided by a resident in the street.
"The plane was upside down and there was a young guy in there, probably about 20-23yrs. When I first got there he was not moving but I could hear him breathing.
"I asked him what his name was but he was not answering. He was quashed."
Mr Magee said residents of the street wielded hoses to keep leaking fuel away from the wreckage till the pilot was safely removed.[/quote]
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:50 pmOh my goodness.....
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:35 pmYeah - that's tragic. Thank goodness that no-one on the ground was injured, that was extremely lucky.
Thoughts & prayers are with their families & colleagues.
Jamie
Thoughts & prayers are with their families & colleagues.
Jamie
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:54 pmToo sad to comment
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:17 pm3 dead now
So sad
RIP
but it brings up the issue of safety around a "busy" uncontrolled airport...
So sad
RIP
but it brings up the issue of safety around a "busy" uncontrolled airport...
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:43 pmAnother chance for Joe P Ublic to complain that uncontrolled airports are unsafe. It's not the uncontrolled airspace, it's pilots not keeping their eyes open. Don't get me wrong, as my sympathy is entirely with the (now) three bereaved families, but collisions like this are generally down to the PICs.
I only hope none of the crews involved were NZFF contributors....
I only hope none of the crews involved were NZFF contributors....
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:59 pmK5054NZ wrote:QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Feb 17 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Another chance for Joe P Ublic to complain that uncontrolled airports are unsafe. It's not the uncontrolled airspace, it's pilots not keeping their eyes open. Don't get me wrong, as my sympathy is entirely with the (now) three bereaved families, but collisions like this are generally down to the PICs.
Good point, but sometimes I would have thought it wouldn't be as easy(not that I have experience) Think about lighting, where he actually is, is there something blinding you? Don't get me wrong I am on neither side, and they are rare, but if another accident happens soon then there probably should be a little look into if something should be done.
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:37 pmTruth be told, if ATC was present, the likelihood of something like this occurring would have been considerably lower. That's all I'll say.
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:22 amThe pilots have now been named:
Dave Fielding - 30 year old instructor in the helicopter
James Taylor - 19, Mr Fielding's student
Bevan Hookway - 17, the student pilot of the Cessna
These sort of accidents really make me feel sick, I think a mid-air collision would be a particularly horrible way to go.
Especially sad that the victims were all young guys too.
Dave Fielding - 30 year old instructor in the helicopter
James Taylor - 19, Mr Fielding's student
Bevan Hookway - 17, the student pilot of the Cessna
These sort of accidents really make me feel sick, I think a mid-air collision would be a particularly horrible way to go.
Especially sad that the victims were all young guys too.Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:34 amDoesn't it always happen in threes ,this morning ive heard of a heli pilot down south losing his tail rotor or something luckily they reported he landed safely ,last week it was a glider pilot up here in the Waikato that lost his life in a comp , the two mexicans down south
and im sure there has been another all in 3weeks or so ..
the pilot dave fielding was a rescue pilot in NZPM they said ,this makes me think a bit to who will be blamed for this horrible crash
its just so sad to think it could have been anyone of us from this forum and we mite never know really
so just look left /right up down and keep safe
and im sure there has been another all in 3weeks or so ..
the pilot dave fielding was a rescue pilot in NZPM they said ,this makes me think a bit to who will be blamed for this horrible crash
its just so sad to think it could have been anyone of us from this forum and we mite never know really
so just look left /right up down and keep safe
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:18 pmHey just found out this morning that the young guy killed in the Cessna was one of my son,s teachers son
It was bad anothe that it happened just up my sisters street and on my Birthday.
But now knowing the family involved not good
It was bad anothe that it happened just up my sisters street and on my Birthday.
But now knowing the family involved not good
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:50 pmVery sad indeed. Even worse when ya know someone involved. I went to school with james as a fellow border in nelson, he also did a bit of flying at the local aero club when I was there.
Such a shame
Such a shame
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:43 pmWow this is pretty sad. 3 dead?
RIP to them and thoughts and prayers to their families.
Cheers
Anthony Harris
RIP to them and thoughts and prayers to their families.
Cheers
Anthony Harris
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:44 pmThis is a sad incident. I wonder if they will put in an ATC tower down at Paraparaumu?
Does anyone know what the helicopter was (R22?)
Daniel
Does anyone know what the helicopter was (R22?)
Daniel
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:02 pmDaniel wrote:QUOTE (Daniel @ Feb 18 2008, 04:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>This is a sad incident. I wonder if they will put in an ATC tower down at Paraparaumu?
Does anyone know what the helicopter was (R22?)
Daniel
Yeah it was an R22, I also know Bevan Hookway's mum (teacher) and dad (tutor)
Very sad, but would having ATC at the airport increase fees (want to be training there)
Nick
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:08 pmThanks Nick.
The fees would probably increase (well at least i think so).
But i think if they do put in a tower it will increase safety (something you dont want to compromise by money)
The fees would probably increase (well at least i think so).
But i think if they do put in a tower it will increase safety (something you dont want to compromise by money)
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:23 pmVery true