Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Jacksonville, Florida: Trailer loses plane on I-10 near Chaffee; Owner didn't realize plane detached from tow until he got to Baker County

Tom  Zollinger paid $3,500 for the plane. He's waited his entire life to own one, and said he can't give up on his dream now. 

"I cashed in what I could cash in. I didn't tell my wife, and now I'm divorced." - Tom Zollinger  


 


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -  A plane on the side of the road made for an unusual site for commuters Wednesday morning on the Westside.

A small bi-plane was left on the side of the road after it detached from the trailer that was towing it overnight, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The plane was located by troopers on the side of I-10 westbound near Chaffee Road Wednesday morning.

Tom Zollinger, the owner, said he didn't notice the plane had detached from the trailer until he got all the way to Baker County. Zollinger said he bought the plane as a retirement gift to himself.

"I don't know how it wound up in the shoulder," he said. "It must be smarter than me."

Zollinger's trying to maintain his sense of humor even though he's extremely disappointed. He drove from Kentucky to Satellite Beach to pick up the miniature aircraft he paid $3,500 for. He also bought the trailer.

"He was tying it down, he had a company tying it down, and everything looked like it was going to be OK for me," Zollinger said.

Zollinger said when he realized the plane had detached, he was most worried about someone getting hurt or killed because of it.

Troopers waited for hours for Zollinger to retrieve the plane. Lanes were not blocked during the incident.

"It could have been a lot worse than it was," FHP Sgt. Dylan Bryan said.

He said it happens far too often, drivers losing their load or their trailer altogether. Zollinger could have been held responsible for an accident if someone had been hurt or killed.

"We have documented and worked traffic crashes where the load wasn't attached properly or fell off and caused a very serious death," Bryan said.


Story, video and comments:   http://www.news4jax.com

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A retired man, who is passionate about pursuing his lifelong dream of flying, lost his plane along the side of I-10 Wednesday morning. 

 Tom Zollinger is from Kentucky. He said his dream has always been to own an experimental aircraft.

He tells WTLV-TV he purchased a small plane from a man in Satellite Beach back in October. On Tuesday, he made the long trek down to Florida to retrieve his treasure.

The aircraft was securely tightened to his trailer, or so he thought.w

On his way back to Kentucky, Zollinger realized his plane was no longer on the trailer. He didn't realize the plane was missing until he got to Baker County, roughly 15 miles from where the plane unhooked. The plane and trailer ended up in the median of I-10 near Chaffee Road on Jacksonville's Westside.

"When I stopped for gas," said Zollinger. "Every time I stopped for gas, I go out and check on my straps to make sure everything is tight. There was nothing tied on."

He called the Florida Highway Patrol and said he was terrified someone ran over the small aircraft. "I told them that's what I was afraid of, that somebody got killed or hurt."

FHP said a driver called them early Wednesday morning and notified them where the plane was.

Zollinger said it's amazing it ended up on in the median. "It must be smarter than me," he said.

Zollinger paid $3,500 for the plane. He's waited his entire life to own one, and said he can't give up on his dream now.

"I cashed in what I could cash in. I didn't tell my wife, and now I'm divorced."

Traffic was unaffected as the plane was lost, then reunited with its owner.

Story and video:    http://www.wfmynews2.com



 


 

Speros Batistatos Message Following Air Show Cancellation: "Don't Mess With Mother Nature"

Maybe pigs aren't supposed to fly after all.

Speros Batistatos, CEO of the South Shore Convention Visitors Authority, was joined by his team and Fair Oaks Farms CEO Gary Corbett at the attraction on Wednesday to announce the cancellation of the 2014 South Shore Air Show.

The event was planned as a grand return in partner with Fair Oaks, who would host the occasion instead of its original home at Marquette Park in Gary. The main attraction of the Air Show, which features the Thunderbirds and other high-flying acts, was cancelled due to the heavy rain the area has received over the past couple of weeks. The decision was made in part of the SSVCA and everyone involved in order to keep the visitors happy - instead of them having to trek their vehicles through the 170 muddy acres of field parking.

"We are not going to put people in harms way. That’s not who this team is and we have to do what we have to in order to keep everyone safe and happy. The SSCVA is known for our safe and responsible events, and we can’t compromise with something that’s harmful to the thousands of people who were coming to the Air Show." Batistatos said. 

Summing up the decision in a single sentence, Batistatos said "we learned an important message here - don't mess with mother nature." 

"[Fair Oaks Farms and SSCVA] have a real desire to provide excellence in any events that we host or that we’re responsible for and we’re both extremely protective of our land. We always want to bring excellence first so that all of our guests enjoy themselves." Corbett added. “Neither of our groups are convinced at this time due to all of the features that are against us that we could bring that excellence we so desire.”

They considered other locations for the 40-60,000 who planned to attend the Air Show, but when the 72 hours worth of deliberations came to a close they decided the walking distance was too much. Batistatos explained the team "thought about the ideas of having the parking in a different area, or helicopters drying the fields, using a drying agent, and other things but even without the recent rain there wouldn’t of been a good solution."

The short window of 14 days the Air Show had to move to a different location was "logistically impossible" to complete, Corbett noted. This makes the second year in a row that the Air Show will not take place.

Air-show-cancel-fiveThough, as we all know here on the Life sites, good news can still be found within the disappointing. The SSVCA and Fair Oaks still plan on holding the South Shore Regional Car Show. That event will take place on Thursday, July 10. The day will not only host the Car Show but a fireworks show that night, the National Anthem Girl will be there to sing, the awards for the cars will also happen, the Indianapolis Colts cheeleaders will be there to hand out awards, a modest beer gardern will be in place, a DJ will appear, and Fair Oaks is still holding their promise of the pig and cow experiences being available that day. If anyone had already bought those passes they still hold their worth. Parking passes will be refunded, hotel packages are now being taken care of and any service charges are being refunded as well.


For any information and to find out about other great events happening through the area over the summer, please visit www.southshorecva.com. For questions regarding the cancellation of the South Shore Air Show, contact Jed Stockton, communications director for Fair Oaks Farms, by calling 219-394-2025 or Nicki Mackowski-Gladstone, VP & chief communications officer for the South Shore CVA, by calling 219-989-7770.

Story and photos: http://www.nwindianalife.com

Pilot put safety at risk

A pilot put the safety of six crew and 128 passengers at risk when he failed to initiate a mandatory missed approach when landing in foggy conditions, a transport watchdog has determined.

The incident occurred on October 29, 2011 during an Air New Zealand flight from Auckland to Christchurch, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) said in a report released today.

The captain was flying the aircraft while the first officer was monitoring. A check captain was also on the flight deck conducting an annual route check on the captain.

Six crew and 128 passengers were on board the flight, the report said.

When the flight departed Auckland, the forecast weather conditions for Christchurch were favorable for a successful landing. However, conditions at Christchurch deteriorated en route, with low cloud and fog restricting visibility on the approach path to the runway.

The Boeing 737 made a standard instrument approach to the runway from the south, allowing the aircraft to descend to 'decision height' at 200 feet.

At that point the captain had to decide if he had the required visual reference to continue the approach - being able to witness the runway approach lights.

It was mandatory to initiate a missed approach and go around for another attempt if the pilot could not not make visual reference, the report stated.

The airplane was still in cloud and fog when it reached 200 feet, but the captain did not initiate a missed approach.

Both the first officer and the check captain were about to intervene when the runway approach lights became visible at about 100 feet.

The captain then landed the airplane.

The lack of a visual reference and the failure to initiate a missed approach was a safety issue, the TAIC determined.

The captain also failed to respond to two other procedural check calls which went unchallenged by the first officer - another safety issue.

The TAIC determined the captain failed to comply with the procedures and perform the mandatory missed approach because he was under stress brought on by the anxiety of having the check captain on board, the Canterbury earthquakes and other personal health issues.

The TAIC also determined that the captain's failures should have been picked up and challenged by the first officer before the airplane reached decision height.

A statement from Air New Zealand this morning said it accepted the findings of the report.

"New Zealand self-reported this incident to TAIC at the time it occurred (2011) and has, in the interim, used this incident to reinforce to its pilots the need to strictly adhere to standard operating procedures.

"The captain no longer works for the airline, he retired shortly after the incident occurred." 


Source:  http://www.odt.co.nz

Martha's Vineyard Airport (KMVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts: County tells airport commissioners to take off

In a letter, the county commission asked its appointees to self-reflect and consider another civic pursuit.

In a followup to a special meeting of the Dukes County Commission last week, chairman Leonard Jason Jr. has asked the seven appointed members of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission to consider a new line of civic involvement.

At a meeting on June 18, Mr. Jason called for the outright resignation of the seven airport commissioners. The longtime county commissioner modified his call in a letter dated June 19 addressed to the airport commission in which he suggested that commissioners find something else to do. Mr. Jason asked for a response by July 1.

“Our duties as public servants often cause us to wonder why we do the things we do,” wrote Mr. Jason, the building inspector in both Edgartown and Chilmark. “It is an awesome responsibility that requires us to reflect on our attitudes, motives and performance in the discharging of our duties. The county commissioners believe the time has come for the airport commissioners to re-examine their behavior, their actions, and their conduct in their meetings.

“A public body that is in charge of the greatest asset of the county has an obligation to conduct public business publically, politely, and respectfully not only to the public, but also to its members. Perhaps the time has come to channel your energies in pursuit of a different endeavor.”

Members of the county commission have been highly critical of the airport commission for its handling of several public disciplinary hearings involving an airport employee.

At a June 18 special county commission meeting called to discuss the airport commission Mr. Jason called outright for the resignation of the airport commissioners. Though many county commissioners voiced harsh criticism of the airport commissioners’ actions at recent public meetings, most wanted to soften the language in the letter.

The county commissioners acknowledged they have no authority to revoke their appointments, or force resignations.

The Martha’s Vineyard Airport commission is responsible by state statute for the care and custody of the county-owned airport. The county commission exercises authority over the airport through its appointing authority.

Response


Airport commission chairman Norman Perry called Mr. Jason’s letter ludicrous.

“Every so often, we get this situation from the county, trying to take over the airport,” Mr. Perry said in a phone interview late Wednesday. “It gets dicey, like this one is.”

Mr. Perry said the airport commission will discuss a response to the call for resignations at its next meeting, scheduled for Friday, June 27.

He said he has no intention of resigning from his post.

“I’ve got too much to do, good stuff to do,” he said.

The only written response the county received as of late Wednesday was from county commissioner and newly appointed airport commissioner Christine Todd of Oak Bluffs.

“I agree with your comments regarding the privilege of serving on a public body and I believe in my very brief tenure, just two months, that I have acted in such a manner,” Ms. Todd wrote in a letter dated June 19, the same day Mr. Jason sent his letter. “I fully intend to continue my pursuit of honesty, integrity, respect and transparency in this governing board of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. I feel my efforts and actions have begun to at least reveal the true character of the Commission as it has existed. The process of improving matters, I believe, begins with identifying and exposing the existing problems. I feel progress is beginning to be made in that department and have hope that it is possible to construct a productive, professional and effective governing Commission.”

There was little response from the other members of the airport commission.

Rich Michelson of Oak Bluffs, a former airport employee who has been highly critical of airport management, was appointed to the airport commission at the same time as Ms. Todd. He refused comment and hung up on a Times reporter.

Airport commissioner Denys Wortman of Tisbury deferred any comment to Mr. Perry. Mr. Wortman, a private pilot and former Tisbury selectman, said he is not planning to resign.

Airport commissioners Constance Teixeira and James Coyne did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Airport commissioner Peter Bettencourt could not be reached.

Airport manager on leave


Mr. Perry told The Times that he granted airport manager Sean Flynn an eight-week leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law designed to give workers unpaid leave to deal with medical or family matters. Mr. Perry said the airport commission received medical certification that the leave was warranted. He also said the medical leave could be shortened if Mr. Flynn can return to his position as airport manager earlier.

Mr. Perry rejected criticism of his decision, saying under the federal law, he could not refuse the request for medical leave.

Several members of the airport commission were surprised to learn that Mr. Perry granted the medical leave before the June 18 airport commission meeting, which was held in executive session.

“I don’t think the circumstances warranted a unilateral decision like that,” said Ms. Todd in a phone interview Wednesday.

She said that the attorney advising the airport commission cited past practice and an absence of any defined procedure for granting leave in the airport commission’s bylaws as justification for Mr. Perry’s action.

Ms. Todd said she will ask for a review of the bylaws at the June 27 airport commission meeting,.

Legal bills mount


At a joint meeting of the Dukes County Advisory Board and the Dukes County Commission Wednesday, advisory board member Jeffrey “Skipper” Manter of West Tisbury questioned the legal cost of current litigation between the county and the airport.

The airport commission filed a lawsuit against the county earlier this year, in which it asked a judge to clarify county treasurer Noreen Mavro-Flanders responsibility to pay airport invoices, and whether county manager Martina Thornton can sit on the airport commission as an ex-officio member.

Following a sometimes heated discussion about the cost of the litigation, the county commissioners voted, and the advisory board approved, a transfer of an additional $17,000 for expected county legal expenses in May and June of this year. The county originally budgeted $3,000 for legal expenses.

Ms. Mavro-Flanders reacted angrily to Mr. Manter’s criticism of county legal expenses, and she cited a list of invoices distributed to the board documenting the airport commission’s legal expenses.

According to Ms. Mavro-Flanders, the airport commission budgeted $25,000 for legal costs, and has spent $154,425 so far during this year.

The airport commission is also facing a workplace discrimination lawsuit from an employee twice suspended, then fired, earlier this year.


Source:  http://www.mvtimes.com

Gary/Chicago International Airport (KGYY) celebrates environmentally-friendly hangar

The Gary/Chicago International Airport soared into a sustainable future Wednesday night with the first certification of an environmentally green building within Gary city limits.

The Gary Jet Center's 40,000-square-foot Hangar III became one of only 12 civilian aircraft hangars in the world to earn U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification for its environmental performance and sustainability.

"From the beginning, we wanted this project to contribute to the new day in Gary that is being fostered today with such hard work by our mayor," said Pat Lee, president of the LEE Companies and project manager for the hangar project.

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson took to the microphone at a celebration held Wednesday night at the hangar and praised Gary Jet Center owner Wil Davis for his vision in building his business at the airport for the past 25 years.

"When many talked about what the airport could or should do, he came over here and just did it," the mayor said.

Four gleaming twin-engine passenger jets in the $5 million hangar served as the backdrop to a swift succession of speeches by Davis, Freeman-Wilson, Lee and others.

The U.S. Green Building Council has run its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program for 14 years, according to Lana Crouse, director for strategic accounts at the U.S. Green Building Council. Buildings can earn four levels of certification, with Gary Jet Center Hangar III earning the second highest, or Gold, level.

Only four civilian hangars in the world have earned that level of certification.

Inside the cavernous Hangar III Wednesday night the challenges faced in gaining LEED Gold certification were obvious.

The hangar's front door measures 240 feet across by 28 feet high, Lee said. The ceiling is almost 40 feet high.

A variety of strategies were used to overcome such challenges, including 2 1/2-inch-thick panels on the door and a wafer construction for all walls consisting of a sheet metal skin encasing a foam core. On the ceiling, that wafer expands to 4 inches.

Overhead fans 20 feet in diameter force hot air down where it's needed. The forced-air, natural gas-fired heating system can be controlled from the Gary Jet Center's office computers. The lighting is provided by digitally controlled, fluorescent high-bay fixtures.

The Gary Jet Center has two other hangars at the airport and serves customers with fueling, maintenance and other services. Recently, it earned a 2013 Boeing Supplier of the Year Award for its work in servicing Boeing Corp.'s corporate jet fleet, which is housed at the airport.

What's so green about it?

Here are just some of the reasons why the Gary Jet Center's Hangar III earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

    33 percent overall energy reduction
    47 percent overall energy cost savings
    66 percent reduction in groundwater runoff
    90 percent of building materials sourced locally.
    76 percent of construction waste recycled.
    53 percent recycled content building materials. 

Story and photo gallery: http://www.nwitimes.com

Martha's Vineyard Airport (KMVY), Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts: Former airport commission chairmen see familiar pattern

Three people who once served as airport commissioners offer a perspective on the current turbulence at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.

Several former members of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport commission, including two chairmen, all veterans of a costly legal battle with the Dukes County Commission over the statutory role of the county appointed airport commission, offered remarkably similar views of the current turbulence that last week led county commission chairman Lenny Jason, Jr. to ask members of the airport body to resign.

“It’s disheartening,” said Marc Villa of Chilmark, a former chairman of the airport commission who was ousted by county commissioners in 2003. “I don’t understand how it degenerates so fast.”

“It’s obviously deja vu all over again, to quote Yogi Berra,” said George Balco of Tisbury, who served briefly as chairman before he was voted out of the lead role. “It’s sad.”

“It looks like a rerun,” said Frank Daly of Tisbury, who served on the airport commission during the same period as Mr. Villa and Mr. Balco. “We’re just going into a repeat of what happened before.”

County commission unhappiness with its appointed airport commission is not new. It is rooted in efforts over the years to exercise control, often through the county manager, of the state’s only county-owned airport. The issue came to a head when state and federal aviation authorities tied millions of dollars in airport grants to assurances that the county would not interfere in airport affairs.

Over the years, the county commissioners have self appointed county commissioners to the airport commission or appointed individuals more in line with the county view. But until last week there was never been a call for a wholesale resignation.

It’s a mess

In 1997, the commissioners appointed Mr. Villa to the airport commission. A successful businessman and pilot, he served six years on the airport commission, three as chairman after wresting control from John Alley of West Tisbury, a longtime county and airport commissioner. During his tenure Mr. Villa engaged in a running battle with the former county manager, Carol Borer, and county commissioners over his insistence that the airport commissioners and not the county commissioners and their county manager had the sole statutory authority to control airport affairs, a position bolstered by state and federal grant guarantees, and later a superior court decision.

Mr. Villa was credited for many of the improvements at the airport, including the construction of a new terminal and more professional accounting procedures. When he failed to win reappointment in 2003 he said the county was only continuing a pattern of getting rid of qualified people who did not agree with the county view of how the airport should be managed. In a phone interview with The Times Tuesday, Mr. Villa said the current turbulence is a result of that practice.

More than once, Mr. Villa used the word disheartening to describe the current state of affairs between the county and airport commission.

“We had a coalition of individuals that was able to put the airport back together again,” Mr. Villa said. “We were able to wrestle control of it from the county commission, particularly from John Alley. We were very successful and we left it in good shape.

“They slowly, through attrition and effort, built it back up again with their own people and it’s a mess. There’s no question the county creates an airport commission that is a mirror image of themselves. They have to blame themselves for the mess.”

Mr. Villa is critical of the county commission for its recent appointments, including the appointment of one of their own members, Christine Todd, to the airport commission, and Richard Michelson, a former airport employee and union leader. Mr. Villa believes no one should serve on both boards at the same time.

“I fought that all the time, I didn’t think that was appropriate,” Mr. Villa said. “I fail to understand how you can appoint a fellow who was a union employee on disability as an airport commissioner. The county commissioners, if they really want to do their job, have to go out and solicit individuals to get in there with a particular set of skills, whether it’s an engineer, accounting, aviation. It doesn’t have to be all pilots, that wouldn’t work either.”

Mr. Daly, a civil engineer and businessman, agrees with that view. “The root of the problem is the county commissioners didn’t vet these people,” he said.  “You need business common sense. The airport is a business.”

Two masters


The latest skirmish between the county and airport commission is rooted in the transformation from a regional government body led by an elected and unpaid three-member commission to a paid county manager form of government under the control of an elected and unpaid seven-member commission in the 1990s.

At the time, the airport terminal was a crumbling World War II era building, the business park was littered with junk automobiles and record keeping and the collection of rents and fees was an informal, poorly managed affair. presided over by Mr. Alley.

On Aug. 17, 1995, the newly elected members of the county commission appointed themselves to the then five-member airport commission, which already included two county commissioners, creating a nine-member airport commission. The self-appointment, in possible violation of conflict of interest rules, was allowable due to special legislation filed in 1987 at the request of the county that allowed county commissioners to also serve as airport commissioners for the state’s only county-owned airport.

In January 2000, the county commissioners rejected an effort to reduce the size of the nine-member airport commission and end the practice of county commissioner self-appointments.

In January 2001, the county commissioners reduced the size of the airport commission.

During the same round of appointments the county commissioners appointed Mr. Balco, a member of the Tisbury finance advisory committee; William Mill, a former news reporter covering transportation who had moved to the Island from Connecticut five years earlier; and Richard Colson, a pilot.

At the time of his appointment to the airport commission, Mr. Balco brought a business background in financial analysis and investments to the board and ten years of experience on Tisbury’s finance and advisory committee.

Mr. Balco said when county commissioners appoint themselves to the airport commission, it creates problems. “How can you see it any way other than a conflict,” Mr. Balco said. “You can’t serve two masters working against each other. It makes it a joke.”

In December 2002, the airport commissioners agreed to file suit against Dukes County over the continuing refusal of the county manager to allow the airport manager and assistant manager to be paid the full salaries agreed to in contracts signed by the airport commissioners. Only John Alley — then, both a county and airport commission member at the time — voted against the action.

In their next round of appointments one month later, in January 2003, the county commissioners struck back. Bypassing individuals with aviation and business backgrounds and no county ties, the county commissioners appointed Mr. Alley; Nelson Smith of Edgartown, a newly elected county commissioner and land surveyor; T.J. Hegarty of West Tisbury, county rodent control officer; and Jack Law of Oak Bluffs, a manager at the R.M. Packer Company and a cousin of Noreen Mavro Flanders, Dukes County treasurer.

In January 2004, the county commissioners appointed Norman Perry of West Tisbury, chairman of the West Tisbury personnel board and a member of the Dukes County emergency management agency. Today, he is chairman of the airport commission.

Mr. Villa said county commissioners take too provincial a view when they make appointments.

“There’s a tendency to try to keep all of this stuff on-Island, with Island people,” Mr. Villa said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t qualified Island people, but quite often you have to bring in someone from outside. There’s also some apathy. It’s hard to get people to jump into the fray, partially because they don’t think they can do anything. The same names have been there for years, they don’t think they can deal with them.”

Story and photo:  http://www.mvtimes.com

Calgary airplane enthusiasts reach fundraising goal for pair of vintage Second World War planes

Fundraising is now complete for the restoration of two, city-owned vintage airplanes.

Members of the Mosquito Aircraft Preservation Society announced Tuesday they have met their two-year, $800,000 goal — and actually finished six weeks early.

“When the city agreed to partner with us ... the cost was determined to be $1.6 million to restore both of these airplanes,” said society president Richard de Boer.

“The city said ‘we’ll put up half on a matching dollar basis but the Calgary Mosquito Society has to come up with the other half.’”

Fundraising efforts began with a deadline of Aug. 1, 2014 and the finish line was crossed June 20.

“We’ve been doing a whole shotgun of different fundraising things but the last two things that put the cap on it for us was a direct appeal to our membership and people were extremely responsive,” said de Boer.

“We had over 77% of our members throwing in cash donations averaging over $100, which has been significant.

“But the very last thing was a grant from the Calgary Foundation, covering our educational and display components for both airplanes, and that one came through last week for $60,000.”

Having the money in place means restoration of the two airplanes — a Second World War vintage de Havilland Mosquito and a Hawker Hurricane — will continue to completion.

The Mosquito was taken to Nanton where it is being restored by a team of volunteers at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada while the Hurricane was taken to Historic Aviation Services in Wetaskiwin.

“We have a very active group that are down (in Nanton) at least twice a week and we’re averaging 12 to 15 people,” said de Boer.

“And these are, for the most part, pretty highly skilled people in the aviation business, professional engineers, mechanics and that sort of thing.”

Both planes sat in storage for roughly a half-century before the restoration process began, and de Boer said work will likely continue for at least another three years.

“It’s an extremely detailed, in-depth restoration,” he said.

“The poor Mosquito has been kicking around Calgary for over 50 years and it was disassembled almost to every last nut and bolt and there’s been some damage to it over the years.”


Source:   http://www.calgarysun.com

Rolls Royce jet fuel spill raises safety and oversight concerns

An environmental organization is blaming lax oversight for a huge jet fuel spill at the Lachine Rolls Royce factory last month.  

 Some 18,000 litres were involved, some of it seeping into the city's sewer system.

The city says the spill did not present any danger to the public, but the David Suzuki Foundation says we were lucky.

The Foundation's Jean-Patrick Toussaint thinks stricter oversight is needed, as these kinds of events are becoming increasingly common.

"More and more, we're seeing companies having the power to self-regulate themselves," he says. "Of course, the ministry is overseeing all of this, but it's not enough, and we're seeing situations like this happening."

The spill is being blamed on a seal break in the factory's distribution network.

City spokesman Jacques Alain Lavallee says the delay between the time of the spill - around 1:30 a.m. - and the time the provincial environment ministry was notified at around 8:30 a.m. was disturbing.

Rolls Royce is reviewing its safety procedures and the city promises it will be following up with future inspections.


Source:   http://www.cjad.com
 
Rolls Royce faces the possibility of sanctions for failing to disclose a massive leak of aviation fuel last month.

The Journal de Montreal says the leak of 18,000 litres of fuel occurred at the company's jet engine plant on Côte-de-Liesse in Lachine at around 1am on May 25th, but was not reported to Environment Quebec officials until 8:30 in the morning.

Quebec law states that oil spills and fuel leaks must be reported immediately.

Many Lachine residents complained of the smell in the city that day, but no notice was ever sent out.

The clean up of the spill resulted in only 2000 litres being recovered from the soil.

The other 16,000 litres was apparently flushed thru the sewer system and was unrecoverable.

The Journal de Montreal says the Environment Department is now considering possible administrative sanctions or legal action against the company.

Story:   http://www.cjad.com

Crash chopper pilot freed again

South African businessman Frederick Wilhelm August Lutzkie yesterday appeared in court facing allegations of threatening a Zanu PF councillor and possessing camouflage wear.

Lutzkie, who is out on bail pending appeal against a seven-year jail sentence imposed on him for violating Zimbabwe's immigration and aviation laws, appeared before Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe facing charges of unlawful possession of camouflage and disorderly conduct in a public place.

Lutzkie, who crash-landed and buried his chopper at Doddieburn Farm in Gwanda, was not asked to plead and was granted free bail, but ordered to continue residing at his given address and not to interfere with State witnesses.

He will appear in court on July 3.

In granting Lutzkie free bail, Nazombe said she had taken into consideration the charges being preferred against him.

Lutzkie was arrested on Monday as he left court where he had been expected to testify as a State witness.

Allegations against Lutzkie were that on May 18, detectives from the law and order section were investigating a case of failing to report an aircraft accident at Doddieburn Farm.

During the investigations, the detectives discovered an assortment of camouflage clothing that included trousers, shirts and jackets.

The State further alleged that on June 18, villagers at Doddieburn Farm held a Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources meeting where Lutzkie asked to be introduced.

When he got to Zanu PF councillor Mphathiswa Ncube, he allegedly accused him of causing trouble at the farm.

- Story and photo:  http://www.bulawayo24.com

Air Spray in Chico: Unusual 'crop duster' takes to north valley skies

CHICO >> Around this region, crop dusters are a common sight, but there will be one in local skies this week unlike the others.

It's white with red striping. It's an Air Tractor 802, manufactured in Texas, and it sounds like a jet aircraft. Instead of seed or ag sprays, this aircraft's belly is full of retardant for wildland fire control.

Newly purchased by Air Spray in Chico, the "AT" and its pilot will be going through training at the Municipal Airport this week, and then head to Oregon, where it's been leased to the state.

Air Spray USA general manager Ravi Saip greeted the arriving plane at the airport on Tuesday, and will likely head up with the team to LaGrande, Oregon, Monday.

At that time, it will bear the new Air Spray logo.

This is one of two AT 802s that Air Spray has acquired, with the other one arriving in about two weeks for the same rehearsal. While it has the bones of a crop duster, it's been manufactured to deliver retardant through a belly tank. The new planes have a carrying capacity of 800 gallons, compared to the former military air tankers that have been used, with 3,000-gallon capacity. The smaller capacity isn't a big deal, according to Saip. And the maneuverability lets the Air Tractor get lower and into tight spots.

Air Spray will also be sending to Oregon a truck and trailer combo that allows for remote fueling of the smaller tanker in rugged locations.

A contract for the second tanker is being sought.

On other local Air Spray projects, the two former passenger jets that are being modifying into air tankers will likely be leased by the U.S. Forest Service. Saip said Air Spray, which is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has had a long relationship with the Forest Service when it comes to firefighting contracts.

Saip said one jet will be ready for the 2015 fire season.

"They took longer to modify than we expected," said Saip.

The new design that Air Spray created for the retardant delivery system has taken two years to perfect and implement, but its installation is coming to completion. The project has gotten endorsement from British Aerospace, Saip said. He expects that will further help Air Spray get the certification and approval for the Forest Service by the end of the winter. The Forest Service has followed the shift from World War II air tankers to jet aircraft.

"Communication with the Forest Service has been very good," said Saip. A former Aero Union employee in Chico who dealt with the Forest Service previously, Saip knows the process and people.

Air Spray already has a "call as needed" agreement with Cal Fire this year for California wildfires, but that will apply to a full-size Lockheed Electra air tanker that will arrive in Chico by August and was here last year.

Calling it an "at need" firefighting craft, Saip said the plane will be based in Chico but will be sent around North America on an at-need basis, filling in gaps.

Saip noted that plane could be put into use for local firefighting needs as well.

Story and photo gallery:   http://www.chicoer.com

Grazhopper Trike: Fatal accident occurred June 23, 2014 in Ottawa, Illinois

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Aviation Accident Final Report  -   National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items -  National Transportation Safety Board:   https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA316
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, June 23, 2014 in Ottawa, IL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/01/2016
Aircraft: GRAZHOPPER TRIKE, registration: NONE
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The noncertificated pilot was conducting a personal local flight in a powered-parachute. The pilot reported that he was flying the powered-parachute at low altitude through mist over the spillway of a dam when the engine suddenly lost power. The powered-parachute subsequently impacted the surface of turbulent flood waters just below the dam. After impact, the deflated parachute canopy flew over and covered the top of the airframe, which was then submerged or partially submerged. The pilot was able to free himself; however, the passenger was not able to exit and was fatally injured. A police officer who interviewed the pilot about 5 hours after the accident reported that the pilot's speech pattern was rambling and that the pilot appeared to be "under the influence of something." Blood specimens collected from the pilot more than 6 hours after the accident showed high levels of alprazolam and hydrocodone and low levels of oxycodone and diazepam. Although the exact blood levels of all four medications at the time of the accident could not be determined, it is likely that all of these sedating drugs were present in the pilot’s system at or well above the normal therapeutic range at the time of the accident. The high levels these drugs and the evidence of impairment described by the police officer just 5 hours after the accident indicate that the pilot was impaired by the effects of multiple sedating medications around the time of the accident, which likely effected his decision-making and flight skills.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The noncertificated pilot’s improper decision to operate the powered-parachute at low altitude through mist in a confined area while he was impaired by multiple sedating medications, which resulted in his loss of control of the parachute and subsequent impact with water. 

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On June 23, 2014, about 2100 central daylight time, an unregistered powered parachute with a two-seat trike airframe, was substantially damaged after impacting the surface of the water on the Fox River near Ottawa, Illinois. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The powered parachute was operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The powered parachute had departed Skydive Chicago Airport (8N2), Ottawa, Illinois about 2040 for a local flight.

The pilot reported that the passenger on the accident flight had been pushing the pilot to fly at a lower altitude and closer to the river and the spillway on the dam. While flying downstream through mist over the dam at an altitude of about 50 feet above ground level the engine suddenly quit. Following the loss of engine power the pilot was unable to fly to a nearby shoreline and impacted the surface of the turbulent flood waters just below the dam.

After hitting the water the parachute canopy flew over and covered the top of the airframe which was then submerged or partially submerged. The pilot estimated that had he had been underwater for about 15 seconds before he was able to unfasten his harness and get himself free. The fast flowing water current then carried the pilot downstream.

One person reported that he didn't see the accident, but he remembered hearing the powered parachute flying in the area and the engine sounded like it was "missing" and perhaps the carburetor was "choking out". There were no witnesses to the accident and emergency personnel responded only after the pilot exited the river and walked to a nearby business to make a call to 9-1-1 emergency.

The passenger did not exit the partially submerged wreckage and was removed the following morning by emergency personnel.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 33, held a current "advanced instructor" rating issued by the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Inc. (USHPA). The USHPA instructor rating was valid only for instruction in ultralight vehicles. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed that the pilot had never held an FAA pilot certificate and had never held an FAA medical certificate.

The pilot said he had recently come to Skydive Chicago at 8N2 to make money by selling rides in the powered parachute that he owned, and this was his only means of income.

The pilot's personal logbooks were not available for examination by the NTSB during the course of the investigation. Based on postaccident interviews with the pilot, he had owned and flown the powered parachute for about the previous six months. The pilot did not report any details about his pilot experience or his previous flight training.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The two-seat, single engine, powered parachute, was a "GRAZhopper Trike" which was powered by an aft mounted 25 horsepower Vittorazi Monster 185, two-stroke pusher engine. The amateur built light sport aircraft had a tubular frame with two main landing gear wheels mounted just aft of the pilot's seat. There was a steerable nose wheel, mounted forward of the front passenger seat, which was operated by direct pedal inputs from the rear seat pilot. The pilot's seat was in the rear and the passenger's seat was in in the front. Each seat was equipped with a 4-point seat belt and shoulder harness restraint system. The parachute canopy had risers which were connected to the top of the tubular frame between the two tandem seats. During flight the canopy could be controlled by inputs from the pilot by pulling down on the parachute risers.

FAA records show that the light sport powered parachute had never been issued an FAA airworthiness certificate and had never been issued an FAA registration certificate. No aircraft maintenance records were located during the course of the investigation. The date of manufacture was reported by the pilot to have been in about 2013 or 2014. The name of the manufacturer could not be determined.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The closest official weather reporting station was at KVYS, Peru, Illinois; located 17 miles west from the accident location

At 2035 the Automated Surface Observation System at KVYS reported wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 24 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 21 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of mercury.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed that, at the accident location, sunset occurred at 2033, the end of evening civil twilight occurred at 2107, and moonset occurred at 1810.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Emergency responders found the partially submerged wreckage snagged on a pile of driftwood near the middle of the Fox River about 200 feet downstream from the 600 foot wide spillway of a hydroelectric dam. The trike frame was resting right side down with the left main landing gear sticking out of the water and the front wheel oriented downstream to the south. The yellow parachute canopy was wrapped around the engine cage and trike frame.

Turbulent fast flowing water hampered recovery efforts and the wreckage remained in place after emergency responders departed. The flood conditions in the river increased, and the wreckage was subsequently swept downstream. The wreckage was not recovered, and was not further examined.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the passenger by a forensic pathologist as ordered by the LaSalle County Coroner's Office; Ottawa, Illinois.

Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated that tests for carbon monoxide and for cyanide were not performed, no ethanol was detected in blood, dihydrocodeine was detected in blood, hydrocodone was detected in blood, and oxycodone was detected in blood.

According to the police interview conducted approximately 5 hours after the crash, the pilot said he had used several prescription medications on the day of the accident, including oxycodone (15 mg) in that morning and again in the afternoon; alprazolam, one that morning and one again that afternoon; diazepam one that morning, and one at noon; and two hydrocodone that morning. Additionally, the police interview report noted that the pilot's speech pattern was rambling and the pilot would forget what they were talking about, and would not sometimes understand basic questions as if he was "under the influence of something."

The Illinois State Police Forensic Laboratory reported that blood specimens collected from the pilot at 0347 on the morning of June 24, 2014, tested positive for alprazolam 40 ug/L, hydrocodone 70 ug/L, oxycodone less than 10 ug/L and diazepam less than 250 ug/L.

Alprazolam is a sedating benzodiazepine used to treat panic and anxiety disorders marketed as Xanax. The therapeutic range is from 0.6 to 20 ug/L and the half-life ranges from 6 to 20 hours. Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic marketed under many names including Vicodin. The therapeutic range is from 10 to 50 ug/L and the half-life ranges from 4 to 8 hours. Oxycodone is another narcotic analgesic marketed under many names including Percocet. The therapeutic range is from 13 to 99 ug/L and the half-life ranges from 4 to 6 hours. Diazepam is a sedating benzodiazepine used to treat a number of conditions including anxiety, and muscle spasms and is marketed as Valium. The therapeutic range is from 100 to 1,500 ug/L and the half-life ranges from 21 to 82 hours.

All of the above medications carry the warning: may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery). Additionally, the combination of these four central nervous system (CNS) depressant medications may enhance the depressant effects of any single drug.

The investigation was unable to identify any information about the pilot's previous medical history.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 61.53 (b) requires that a person shall not act as a required pilot crewmember, while that person knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to operate the aircraft in a safe manner.

14 CFR 91.146 and 91.147 define requirements for conducting certain passenger carrying flights for compensation or hire.

14 CFR 61.303 requires that the pilot of a light sport aircraft must hold at least a sport pilot certificate issued by the FAA.

14 CFR 61.413 authorizes flight instruction in a light sport aircraft by a person who holds at least a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating issued by the FAA.

14 CFR 91.203 requires that a civil aircraft may not be operated unless it has a current airworthiness certificate and an effective U. S. registration certificate.

14 CFR 103.1 defines an ultralight vehicle as a vehicle used for operation in the air by a single-occupant, and used for recreation or sport purposes only.

NTSB Identification: CEN14LA316
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, June 23, 2014 in Ottawa, IL
Aircraft: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN, registration: NONE
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On June 23, 2014, about 2100 central daylight time, an unregistered 2-seat trike powered parachute, was substantially damaged after impacting the surface of the water on the Fox River near Ottawa, Illinois. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The powered parachute was operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The powered parachute had departed Skydive Chicago Airport (8N2), Ottawa, Illinois at an unknown time.



Jeffrey Carpenter 
1963 - 2014  

Obituary 


 Jeffrey Allan Carpenter, age 50, of Chicago, passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014 as the result of an aircraft accident on the Fox River near Ottawa. "I believe in a Universal Spirit that can only be experienced by living good and helping others, seeing their best and encouraging it." Cremation rites will be accorded. A Celebration of Life will be held at Skydive Chicago at a later date. Gladfelter Funeral Home, Ottawa is handling arrangements. Jeffrey was born October 25, 1963 in Knoxville, TN, a son of E. Larry and Jeanne Carpenter. He married Audrey L. Carrera August 16, 1997 in Chicago. Surviving are his Beloved wife, Audrey of Chicago; his dog Taysa; a sister, Robyn Carpenter Shawkey of NC; a brother, Larry M. Carpenter of Texas; two nieces, Kathryn and Megan Shawkey of NC; a nephew, Ramin Chitsaz of Chicago; sister-in-law, Hedy Carrera of Morton Grove, IL and mother-in-law Piedad Carrera of Chicago. His parents preceded him in death. Jeffrey graduated from Webster University, St. Louis, MO with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. He was sales manager at Skydive Chicago, and owner and operator of Adrenaline Dance all in Ottawa, IL He was a member of the United States Parachute Association. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Jeff Carpenter Memorial Fund c/o First State Bank, 1212 LaSalle St., Ottawa, IL 61350.

Published in Chicago Tribune on June 29, 2014

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituary


 

OTTAWA, Ill. (CBS) – A Chicago man was killed, and an Arizona man was hospitalized, after their ultralight aircraft crashed Monday night in the middle of the Fox River near Ottawa.  

Lake County Sheriff’s police said they got a call from the pilot — Nicholas Peterson, of Arizona — around 10:30 p.m., approximately 90 minutes after the aircraft crashed in the river. He had managed to swim to safety, but his passenger, 50-year-old Jeffrey Carpenter of Chicago, wasn’t able to get free from his harness, and went under the surface.

CBS 2’s Mike Puccinelli reports the men took off from Skydive Chicago in Ottawa sometime Monday evening in an ultralight aircraft — either a paraglider or an ultraglider — which are commonly flown from that airfield.

Connie Reppine saw the aircraft flying overhead before the crash, and she immediately recognized the telltale sound of trouble.

“It was just like his engine was just making noises,” she said.

Reppine said the aircraft was flying so low it disappeared beneath the treeline, but not before she expressed her concerns out loud.

“I said mom, he’s going to crash in that river,” she said.

Reppine never heard the crash over the roar of the dam, but LaSalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton said the Peterson and Carpenter clearly knew they were about to crash, and were going to have to get away from the aircraft after it hit the water near the Dayton Dam.

Templeton said Peterson told police the aircraft experienced engine trouble before it went down in the middle of the river. The swift current pushed the aircraft against a tree in the middle of the river. Carpenter could not remove his harness, and became trapped under the water, pressed against the tree.

Peterson was able to cut himself free, and swim to shore, but it was approximately 90 minutes after the crash before he could contact police.

Crews tried to rescue Carpenter Monday night, but determined conditions were too dangerous – between the swift-flowing river, the growing darkness, and intermittent rain – and the search was suspended until daybreak.

“The current’s really fast, it’s over 7,000 feet per second, which is extremely swift water; flood stage. The water’s not that deep, but you can’t walk in it. It’ll wipe you right away,” said Marseilles Fire Chief Mick Garrison.

A hovercraft was brought in Tuesday morning when the search resumed, but it also had trouble navigating the river.

“Two gentlemen had to walk through the water, approximately 50 feet,” Garrison said.

Templeton said it was “absolutely remarkable” those two men were able to walk out to the wreck and get Carpenter’s body free. Carpenter was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:05 a.m.

Peterson was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa after he was rescued. Templeton said he was conscious and talking to investigators.

Story and Video:   http://chicago.cbslocal.com


 
DAYTON, Ill. (WLS) --   An adventure turned tragic in LaSalle County west of Chicago when a powered ultralight aircraft crashed Monday night in the Fox River near Ottawa, killing one person.

People in the area are used to seeing a lot of recreational aircraft. They have an enthusiastic skydive community and Jeffery Carpenter, the man who died, was an active participant in the community and worked at the skydive shop not far from the accident site.

Apparently, Carpenter, from Chicago, went for a ride Monday evening and something went terribly wrong over Fox River.

The craft stopped 50 feet below the Dayton Dam and it will stay there until conditions improve, as officials say it is too dangerous to move.

Nearby residents tell us the river is 20 feet higher than normal with more debris and stronger current.

"To me they shouldn't have been around here because of the high water. This is a bad spot for high water and running real bad," said resident Dan Szobar.

It was treacherous early Tuesday morning for trained rescue personnel as they walked into the elevated fast water of the Fox River, where they were able to recover the Carpenter's body.

"He was entrapped and he was still in his harness. The rescuers had to remove him from his harness and he was fully submerged," said Chief Michael Garrison, Marseilles Fire Department.

The ultralight craft may have been a powered parachute. The type of craft is still under investigation.

Local authorities say it left a nearby airport Monday evening. The pilot told investigators they ran into trouble over the river.

"They knew that the aircraft was going down, they were having engine trouble. The pilot knew it and he communicated that to his passenger," said LaSalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton.

The pilot was able to cut himself out and float downstream until he could swim to shore.
He told investigators they crashed in the River about 8:30 p.m. 911 was called after 10 p.m.

Rescuers tried to reach Carpenter Monday night, but could not get to him until Tuesday due to the water conditions.

Some in the area recall seeing an ultralight that looked to be in trouble Monday.

"I'm used to seeing them, but it was just really, really scary because he was flying way too low," said resident Connie Reppine.

Aside from the engine trouble, there was mist over the river at dusk Monday night.

"Common sense tells me that this is pretty dangerous to be out in the weather conditions we have, plus in the dark evening hours to be over the water," Sheriff Templeton said.

The remains of the craft will remain in the river at least a few more days until conditions are safer for officials to retrieve it.

FAA investigators were on the scene, but want to get a closer look to figure out exactly what the rules, restrictions and regulations are for that type of vehicle, but they have not specifically named what type of craft it is.

The pilot was hospitalized, but has been released.

PHOTOS: Crews search for ultra glider passenger in Fox River

Story, video and photo gallery:  http://abc7chicago.com

Tecnam P96 Golf 100, 25-4470: Fatal accident occurred June 26, 2014 in Krondorf, south of Tanunda, South Australia

THE Barossa region and local football communities are in mourning after two popular fathers died in a light plane crash.

Pilot Anthony Duggan, 44, of Cockatoo Valley, and Garry Williams, 52, of Glenelg East, died when the two-seater plane crashed in a paddock between Rockford Wines and Villa Tinto Winery about 8am on Thursday.

The pair, who were flying in a Tecnam P96 Golf ultralight plane from Lyndoch to Mildura, have been remembered as popular, devoted and irreplaceable figures at their local football clubs.

Mr Williams last year coached PHOS Camden Football Club’s A1 side in the SA Amateur Football League.

The club’s football director, Steve Jacquier, told The Advertiser he had known Mr Williams for 35 years, having played league football together for Woodville.

Mr Jacquier said his mate, an all-Australian Teal Cup wingman in 1979, had left a huge hole at the club.

“He was just an intense, beautiful and passionate man and he coached the same way,” he said.

“He was loved by everybody ... you just don’t think it’s real, you can’t fathom it.”

Mr Jacquier said Mr Williams’ family — his wife Meredith, son Sam and daughter Erin — were inconsolable after the tragedy.

Mr Jacquier said Sam played A-grade football for PHOS Camden and had told him he wanted to play this weekend in his father’s honour.

He said the club would pay its respects to Mr Williams with a guard of honour and black armbands during their A-grade game against Gepps Cross on Saturday.

“We need to try to get up and be buoyant out of respect for both Garry and Sam,” he said.

Close friend Chris Morgan, who has known Mr Williams since the age of eight, said he was a “great guy”.

“He provided great entertainment to us all over the years,” Mr Morgan said. “He was a fantastic family man and one of the nice guys of life.”

The Barossa District Football and Netball Club is also mourning the loss of Mr Duggan, who was coach of the under-11 junior team.

Club president Simon Taylor said Mr Duggan was a well-loved club stalwart who was also heavily involved in the local tennis club.

“He’s just one of those classic country community people that every club would want,” he said,

“He loved working with the kids and the kids loved him, he was doing such a fantastic job, he’s just going to be irreplaceable.”

The club last night allowed junior players to have a kick with the A-grade after a meeting attended by about 70 parents.

Mr Taylor said players would wear black armbands during Saturday’s matches and a counsellor would attend training next Tuesday to offer support.

He said Mr Duggan’s family had been rallying around Mrs Duggan, their two sons and young daughter, and the close-knit community would do the same.

“He’s just been a tremendous part of the community and we will do what we can to support Naomi and the kids,” he said.

The Duggans’ three children attend local schools Faith Lutheran College in Tanunda and St Jakobi Lutheran School at Lyndoch.

A grieving Mrs Duggan said it was “too soon” to speak as the family needed time to themselves.

“We are still coming to grips with it,” she said.

Lyndoch Lutheran Church Pastor Paul Hannola said he was supporting the Duggan family.

“Obviously it’s a tight-knit community and he was an integral part of the community here.”

FOG AND CLOUD AS A FLIGHT TURNS FATAL

Jordanna Schriever

AN ultralight plane that crashed into a Barossa Valley paddock, killing two men yesterday morning, may have encountered problems in poor weather.

The two-seater Tecnam P96 Golf crashed between Rockford Wines and Villa Tinto Winery, just after 8am.

Pilot Anthony Duggan, 44, and his passenger, Garry Williams, 52, of Glenelg East, died at the scene.

Authorities said witnesses described seeing the ultralight plane in trouble as it flew through fog and low cloud.

Part of the plane’s wing was located in another paddock about 1km east of where the fuselage was found.

The plane, which had taken off from Barossa Valley Helicopters at Lyndoch on a flight to Mildura, burst into flames when it crashed before being extinguished by winery staff.

Recreational Aviation Australia president Michael Monck — whose organisation is investigating the incident — said it was unknown what caused the crash, but poor visibility would be considered.

“Witness reports stated there was a bit of fog and low cloud, which we will look at as a contributing factor,” he said.

Mr Monck said any findings and recommendations from the investigation would be dealt with internally.

“We will look at those findings and draw some preliminary conclusions and see if there is anything we can do to prevent a similar accident from happening again,” he said.

SA Police Chief Inspector Alex Zimmermann said a witness from one of the two adjacent wineries had seen the crash.

“The aircraft came down between two wineries and fortunately it didn’t crash in to either of those buildings and there were workers at one of the wineries who called us and they were first on scene,” he said.

“We’ve got a very comprehensive statement from that person about what he saw the aircraft was doing at the time.

“Certainly there is no suggestion they were doing aerobatics. What I can say is that it appears they were having some difficulty just prior to the crash.”

Insp Zimmermann said the aircraft had been hired by the men, but did not know the purpose of the flight.

He said he was not aware of any mayday calls made from the plane.

Local pilot David Lindner visited the crash site after being contacted about the plane crash.

He said he had flown the plane about six weeks earlier without incident and said it was owned by a local syndicate which kept it housed in the Lyndoch area.

“I loved flying it,” he said.

Mr Lindner said yesterday’s poor conditions would have likely contributed to the crash.

“I think it’s the result of flying in conditions that really weren’t suitable for flying.”

He said it was possible the pilot had become disoriented in yesterday morning’s low cloudy weather, putting the aircraft under stress and causing it to break up.

“There wasn’t a lot of wind to my knowledge but there was very low cloud,” he said.

A staff member from Rockford Wines said she and other employees had arrived at work shortly after the crash.

Kabminye Wines cellar door operator Ingrid Glastonbury described the wreckage as “very mangled”.

Source:  http://www.adelaidenow.com.au








A BAROSSA Valley father-of-three was one of two people killed in a plane crash at Krondorf this morning.

Pilot Anthony Duggan, 44, of Cockatoo Valley, and his Glenelg East passenger, 52, died when their two-seater Tecnam P96 Golf ultralight plane crashed into a paddock between Rockford Wines and Villa Tinto Winery, just after 8am.

Part of the plane’s wing was located in another paddock about 1km to the east of where the fuselage was found.

The plane, which had taken off from Lyndoch on a flight to Mildura, burst into flames before it was extinguished by winery staff.

 Mr Duggan and his wife Naomi had three children who attended local schools Faith Lutheran College in Tanunda and St Jakobi Lutheran School at Lyndoch.

Mrs Duggan said it was “too soon” to speak as the family needed time to grieve.

“We are still coming to grips with it,” she said.

Lyndoch Lutheran Church Pastor Paul Hannola said he was supporting the Duggan family.

“Obviously it’s a tight-knit community and he was an integral part of the community here,” he said.

Mr Duggan was a prominent member of the community with a passion for aviation, four-wheel driving and camping.

He was a junior football coach and a director and project manager at engineering consultancy business, Project Management Precision.

Mr Duggan established the management contracting and consultancy business in 2011, working with glass bottle manufacturer Amcor and Adelaide Brighton Cement.

Mr Duggan was an accomplished engineer, completing a bachelor and masters degree at Adelaide and Michigan universities.

He worked as a senior engineer, co-ordinator, assistant manager and manufacturing integration manager across several departments at General Motors Holden between 1995 and 2010.

His distinguished work at GM Holden was recognised with the GM Chairman’s “Best of the Best” Honours Award and GM Asia Pacific President’s Honours Award in 2008 for his work on the Pontiac G8 program.

Recreational Aviation Australia president Michael Monck — whose organisation is investigating the incident — said it was unknown what caused the fatal crash, but poor visibility would be considered.

“Witness reports stated there was a bit of fog and low cloud, which we will look at as a contributing factor,” he said.

Mr Monck said any findings and recommendations from the investigation would be dealt with internally.

“We will look at those findings and draw some preliminary conclusions and see if there is anything we can do to prevent a similar accident from happening again,” he said.

He said the tight-knit aviation community would be reeling from the tragedy.

“All accidents and deaths are horrific and our thoughts are with the families,” he said.

SA Police Chief Inspector Alex Zimmermann said a witness from one of the two adjacent wineries had seen the crash.

“The aircraft came down between two wineries and fortunately it didn’t crash in to either of those buildings and there were workers at one of the wineries that called us and they were first on scene,” he said.

“We’ve got a very comprehensive statement from that person about what he saw the aircraft was doing at the time.

“Certainly there’s no suggestion they were doing aerobatics. What I can say is that it appears they were having some difficulty just prior to the crash.”

Insp Zimmerman said police knew the identity of one of the men but had not yet managed to contact both families.

He said the aircraft had been hired by the men, but he was not sure for what purpose.

Insp Zimmerman said the deaths would be devastating for people in the region.

“As you’d know there is a traditional Barossa air show and there are a lot of pilots and people very interested in aviation in the area,” he said.

“The community will take it very hard.”

He was not aware of any mayday calls of where the plane had taken off from.

He said Recreation and Aviation Australia were travelling to the scene to investigate the crash.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokeswoman said it would not be investigating the fatal crash because the plane was not registered with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman the ultralight plane was categorised under sports aviation, whose peak body was Recreation Aviation Australia.

Local pilot David Lindner visited the crash site after being contacted about the plane crash.

He said he had previously flown the plane about six weeks earlier without incident and said it was owned by a local syndicate which kept it housed in the Lyndoch area.

“I loved flying it,” he said.

He said this morning’s poor conditions would have likely contributed to the crash.

“I think it’s the result of flying in conditions that really weren’t suitable for flying.”

Mr Lindner said it was possible the pilot had become disorientated in this morning’s low cloudy weather, putting the aircraft under stress, causing it to break up.

“There wasn’t a lot of wind to my knowledge but there was very low cloud.

“I’m in shock at the moment, it’s really shaken me up.

“It might be people I know yet and that’s what worries me.”

A staff member from Rockford Wines said she and other employees had arrived to work shortly after the crash occurred.

“I’ve just rocked up to work and found out, it happened next door to Rockford,” she said.

“It’s all pretty fresh and we are all pretty shaken.”

Kabminye Wines cellar door operator Ingrid Glastonbury described the wreckage as “very mangled”.

“All I know is that two people have passed away and I’m finding it very upsetting,” she said.

“I’m standing in front of it and it’s either a small plane or a plane that is a little bit bigger than that. It is very mangled — it has been reduced to a very small (wreckage).”

Mrs Glastonbury said she did not know if the occupants of the plane were local.

Road closures are in place at the intersection of Krondorf Rd and Barossa Valley Highway.

Source:  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au


http://www.flyingonline.biz

Two men have died in an ultralight plane crash this morning at Krondorf in the Barossa Valley.

Just after 8am, police and emergency services were called to a property on Krondorf Road after reports that a light plane had crashed in a paddock between two wineries.

Chief Inspector Alex Zimmermann, the officer in charge of the Barossa Local Service Area, said that when patrols arrived at the scene they found two men deceased in the wreckage of the two-seater aircraft.

He said he would not speculate on the cause of the crash, or the flight details, with Recreation Aviation Australia officials on their way to the scene to investigate.

"There was an eye witness to the aircraft crashing and that information will be passed on to the investigators," he said.

Wreckage located about 1km east of the crash scene will also be examined as part of the inquiry.

Road closures are in place at the intersection of Krondorf Road and Barossa Valley Highway.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Source: http://sapolicenews.com.au


 


Story and photos:   http://www.abc.net.au