ZK-LTC Fatal Crash

[ardypilot]

A crop dusting plane has crashed in Taranaki today, leaving one person dead.

The plane crashed in a paddock in Tarata, 19km east of Ingelwood, at 12pm, Inspector Steve Darroch of central police communications said.

The deceased was believed to be the only person in the plane.

Police, ambulance and fire officers were at the scene, he said.

The Civil Aviation Authority had been notified.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4792707a11.html

[spongebob206]

Nooooooooooooo

Condolences to the family.

Kev Browns Aircraft.

Too Many good men go this way in this industry.

Lost too many friends

RIP

[Naki]

ohhh no..... I know one of the Wanganui Aerowork pilots operating from Straford... RIP

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (Naki @ Dec 14 2008, 05:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ohhh no..... I know one of the Wanganui Aerowork pilots operating from Straford... RIP

Hope it's not your mate Naki.

I'm still worried that Bruce or Murray were not flying.

Can't ring.

RIP

[K5054NZ]

Oh my god......who is the pilot? Oh jeez......

I'm speechless.....

[chopper_nut]

Probably overloaded or close to. If you have a power failure then there arnt many options. Bit like helicopters operating the avoid area of the height/velocity curve.

[K5054NZ]

According to our website Kevin Brown is indeed our Stratford pilot, Derek. A quick google search brought up a Hawera Aero Club newsletter from August this year confirming he was our Stratford man then.....

I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow so much now I was hoping one of our planes wouldn't go down when I'm working there....

Was it on any of the TV news programmes? I've been doing R/C and flightsim all day, haven't gone near radio or TV.

Ok, just checked One and TV3s respective sites, 3 has a VERY brief news release, and One has the Stuff.co.nz story.

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Dec 14 2008, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

According to our website Kevin Brown is indeed our Stratford pilot, Derek. A quick google search brought up a Hawera Aero Club newsletter from August this year confirming he was our Stratford man then.....

I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow so much now I was hoping one of our planes wouldn't go down when I'm working there....

Was it on any of the TV news programmes? I've been doing R/C and flightsim all day, haven't gone near radio or TV.

Ok, just checked One and TV3s respective sites, 3 has a VERY brief news release, and One has the Stuff.co.nz story.

Thanks Zac,

You never know though with relieving Pilots. You know the industry, everyone wants to fly.
You don't fly for the money!

[K5054NZ]

Exactly.

Just this past week I've been thinking a lot about becoming an ag pilot after finishing my engineering stuff.

I'm looking for any info I can, but no joy so far. I don't have any numbers for folks from work except the office.....and of course no-one's there.

I don't think I'd be allowed to post any info Im told at work tomorrow, so I'll just wait until the company releases anything.

It will be very sober in the workshop tomorrow morning.

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Dec 14 2008, 06:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly.

Just this past week I've been thinking a lot about becoming an ag pilot after finishing my engineering stuff.

I think you have an awsome career oppertunity. Stick by it.

I had the chance as an ag pilot but blew it. I was one of the lucky ones.

Lost my best mate and mentor 10 years ago AG flying. He was one of the best Pilots I knew. Strapped the aircraft to him.

Have had some good friends and relatives that flew for WAW in the past and they have all been lucky. They are still alive.

Charlie Flew our Wedding Car HTM, Dick (now a truck driver) was out enjoying the christmas party today, and we cruised over and spent our holiday with Ken (Now a factory owner in OZ) last September.

Enjoy your flying.

Cheers

[K5054NZ]

Funny you should mention Mr Anderson - he flew wedding car for my folks' wedding too! He's sort of back into it now.....in a suit as Air Wanganui CEO!

[Naki]

QUOTE (spongebob206 @ Dec 14 2008, 05:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hope it's not your mate Naki.

I'm still worried that Bruce or Murray were not flying.

Can't ring.

RIP

Worng age I think he's the manager of the Stratford unit last I heard

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Dec 14 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Funny you should mention Mr Anderson - he flew wedding car for my folks' wedding too! He's sort of back into it now.....in a suit as Air Wanganui CEO!

Yeah heard that,

Not into property now aye. You can't take the passion away!

He is one of the Best Chopper Pilots I know. The other two are Ken Walker and Ian Wakelin.
Ken Flew 400 Fletchers for WAW before flying Choppers for Alexander Aviation, then back to WAW. Then in charge of Flight testing CPL Rotary.

Finished Flying in Dubai.

Baldy is still flying in WU isn't he?

Do I know your parents?

[K5054NZ]

Haha he sure is! The R22's out and about most days, and he often pops in to say hi.

David and Joe Yates - dad was Charlie's loader driver in the late 80s. We lived in the old Commercial Pilots School house on the field


UPDATE
Stuff reports that the pilot of LTC has been named by Police - it was Kevin Ross Brown, aged 48.

My most heartfelt sympathies to his family, I know it will be shared by all the Wanganui base WAW crew.

Blue skies, Kevin.

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Dec 14 2008, 08:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haha he sure is! The R22's out and about most days, and he often pops in to say hi.

David and Joe Yates - dad was Charlie's loader driver in the late 80s. We lived in the old Commercial Pilots School house on the field


UPDATE
Stuff reports that the pilot of LTC has been named by Police - it was Kevin Ross Brown, aged 48.

My most heartfelt sympathies to his family, I know it will be shared by all the Wanganui base WAW crew.

Blue skies, Kevin.

Gotta come out and see Ian!

So did I. Lived at the club for about 6 months.

Your old man Blondish and around 6 ft? (Back in those days, Ha Ha )

[K5054NZ]

Thats him!

[Anthony]

Heard about this on the radio earlier today.
RIP

[ardypilot]

Air crash investigators will today begin piecing together the mystery of what caused an experienced pilot to crash his topdressing plane into a hillside near Tarata yesterday.

Kevin Ross Brown, 48, was killed when his Cresco 750 crash-landed in a paddock near Tarata, about 19km east of Inglewood, about noon.

The plane crashed shortly after take- off.

The pilot dumped his load at the end of the runway, indicating he knew he was in trouble.

Mr Brown was the sole occupant of the plane.

Farm worker Tony Clifton, who was helping load the plane, was the first on the scene after it went down.

He jumped into the Waitara River, with his work boots still on, and swam across to get to the plane while someone else called 111.

"It is not something you see everyday," a visibly shaken Mr Clifton said.

New Plymouth photographer Rob Tucker worked with Mr Brown last week, taking dramatic shots as the topdressing plane swooped over the Taranaki countryside.

"I have photographed a lot of aviation in my career and meeting Kevin for the first time on Thursday and watching him work I came away knowing this guy knew what he was doing ... a brilliant flyer in the short time I observed him.

"It really affected me today when I heard the news," Mr Tucker said.

Mr Brown was from the Queenstown area, where his wife still lives, but had been living in Stratford for about four years working for Wanganui Aero Work Ltd.

He started with Wanganui Aero Work in July 2004, as a temporary pilot in the Taranaki area.

Mr Brown had 17 years agricultural flying experience and had logged 12,100 hours in a fixed wing aircraft.

Emergency services, police, fire and a TDHB ambulance rushed to the scene but Mr Brown was already dead.

The Department of Labour, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) were advised of the fatal accident.

CAA investigators will visit the site today.

Tarata farming identity Bryan Hocken said the crash was a "bloody horror story".

Mr Hocken said Mr Brown had been working on his Tarata farm for about a week spreading 500 tonnes of lime.

Mr Hocken, on holiday in Palmerston North yesterday, said he was gutted to hear of Mr Brown's death.

"He was a neat guy, all of the farmers from around here loved him."

Mr Hocken said he would be sadly missed by the rural community.

"He had a good reputation as a professional and a tradesman in his job," he said.

Constable Darren Hayes, of Inglewood police, said the plane had been topdressing in the area for most of the day.

Mr Brown's body was removed from the damaged aircraft about 4pm.

Mr Hayes said police would be investigating the accident and reporting to the coroner.

Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter pilot Rob Van Lieshout, who was one of the first at the scene, said there was nothing they could do.

Mr Van Lieshout said it appeared Mr Brown could have known he was in trouble.

"It looks like he has dumped his load (of fertiliser) just off the end of the airstrip where he took-off."

Mr Van Lieshout said dumping his load would have been one of the first emergency measures Mr Brown would have taken after realising he was in trouble.

Pages of the aircraft's flight manual scattered the hillside but the damaged plane remained mostly intact.

"It looks like it was suffering the results of a heavy impact," Mr Van Lieshout said.

Wanganui Aero Work was established in 1950 and was a foundation member of the Aviation Industry Association.

The company specialises in aerial applications.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4792869a11.html

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Dec 14 2008, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thats him!

OMG Zac, I feel old, I remember you as a baby.

You lived for a while in the house next to the Helicopter hanger.
Bruces Cresco hanger is next door now.

Small world mate. Buddy Parkin took over after yor dad left.

What your parents up to now?

Cheers Mate



RIP Mr Brown. Another good man down.

[K5054NZ]

Dad's back on oil rigs, mum is working in accounting.

Rgearding LTC and Kev, our flags were at half mast today. It was a very sombre mood all around the place.