Interesting (and tragic)!
In my experience there is hardly a gliding accident (mechanical failure aside),
that can be attributed to a single cause. In this case it is highly likely that
ALL the factors mentioned in the newspaper report were in play.
It is entirely possible that there were factors in play that were not even
mentioned- for example the pilot's mental state on the day, and terrain (the
availability of a good outlanding paddock or paddocks). {High definition images
of the area are available on Google Earth.} Was there a strong wind blowing?
I wonder how low the series of low level turns was. The pilot would not need
much height to cover 2 km, even into a strong wind, so I guess that low is
bloody low! This data was no doubt available to the investigator and the
Coroner from the flight recorder. I note that the CAA investigator, Alan
Moselen, did not rule out the possibility of fatigue or dehydration as
contributing factors: He simply said they were unlikely to be the over-riding
factors.
I would hope that the message Julie Hall was trying to get out re dehydration,
was well and truly already known to pilots flying in this country, at least. I
can remember Maurie Bradley doing tests at the Renmark Nationals in '96 and
'97, and making known his results soon after. The message - keep hydrated - has
been iterated over and over again since then.
Ditto re spinning off a turn - especially at low level.
Gary
- Original Message -
From: Christopher Mc Donnell
To: aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 12:05 PM
Subject: [Aus-soaring] NZ Accident Investigation
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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