Hi Matt,
Now that you mention it, I was aware that you were the Oz rep that year in NZ.
In some ways what a bad experience -my belated condolences. I assumed from the
reported " a series of turns" that Trevor was actually thermalling at low
level. Your comment makes it clear that this was not the case. Thanks for that.
So for whatever reason (as you rightly observe), this is an open and shut case
of pilot error. I can picture the situation from your oh so terse comments, and
it just sends a cold shudder down my spine.
There is a very clear message here, and it has little to do with dehydration
(important as it is), which Julie Hall suggests (and quite possibly was), a
contributing factor to this disaster.
The rule is; have a landable paddock in range, and if all else fails, make a
TIMELY decision to ensure that you can SAFELY land in that paddock. The
experience level of the pilot, and the conditions on the day will determine
just what is "timely".
Regards,
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Gage
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] NZ Accident Investigation
We will never know the truth - the only person who knew was Trevor.
But from being there and knowing what flying had happened in the lead up, I
suspect all of the suggested factors played a part, along with a touch of
get-home-itis
By the time he turned, he had already run out of options (he wasn't going to
clear a line of trees he turned short of) and the paddock was way to short for
a down wind landing with 20 knots of wind.
On 08/04/2010, at 12:05 , Christopher Mc Donnell wrote:
Another view. CAA & Coroner at odds.
Glider death cause disputed
By NATALIE AKOORIE and BELINDA FEEK - Waikato Times
Last updated 13:00 08/04/2010
The wife of a Cambridge glider pilot killed in a crash outside Matamata
more than two years ago has questioned a Civil Aviation Authority report that
her husband was being too competitive when he attempted a fatal turn at low
altitude.
Trevor Atkins, a scientist originally from Canada, died when he crashed
into a paddock 2 kilometres from the Matamata Aerodrome, near Waharoa, while
competing in the national gliding championships in February, 2008.
In the CAA report out yesterday, safety investigator Alan Moselen said Dr
Atkins' decision to continue flying toward the aerodrome, rather than landing
early, could have been because he believed a thermal was nearby or because of
the pressure of competition to keep going.
"What was on offer was the opportunity to acquire competition points, and
this alone was possibly the primary driver that influenced the pilot's
decision-making process."
The 51-year-old, who was a gliding administrator and had more than 1200
hours' flying experience, was competing with another pilot for the trans-Tasman
Trophy.
Mr Moselen found the decision to carry out a series of low-level turns and
the eventual loss of control was "likely to have been influenced by competition
and human error rather than any overriding degree of human under-performance
caused by fatigue and or dehydration".
But Dr Atkins' wife, Niwa scientist Julie Hall, said a coroner's report
into her husband's death released last month pointed to fatigue and dehydration
as other contributing factors in the crash.
When asked whether her husband was so competitive he would put his life at
risk, Dr Hall, a glider pilot herself, said: "Absolutely not. I don't believe
Trevor was competitive at all costs ... anybody that knows him well would say
no. Anybody that knew him well, and other pilots who have competed with him,
say no. To be totally put down to competitiveness is out of character."
Dr Hall did not dispute that her husband was competitive but believed
fatigue and dehydration were just as significant contributing factors in his
decision-making.
"I thought his decision-making was impaired in some way and there is good
scientific evidence that cognitive function can be impacted at low levels of
dehydration and that's a message that needs to go out."
She wanted the flying, in particular gliding, community to be more aware of
the impact of those factors when up in the air.
She is still in discussion with the CAA over the report which was released
to her in January.
In his final findings into the death of Dr Atkins, coroner Peter Ryan said
he accepted the pilot's "poor decision-making" at the time of the accident may
have been affected by dehydration and fatigue.
"With respect to the author of the (CAA) report, dehydration and fatigue
would, in my view, have been significant factors making up the human error
factor referred to in the report."
Opinion poll
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