The pilot is recovering in Hospital with no injuries of a critical nature and will be transported early next week to Ballarat for closer proximity to home and family. He is expected to make a full recovery.
I do not intend to speculate on the cause however the A/C (Jantar 3) was winched and transitioned into full climb at low height and proceeded to increase in steepness with no attempt to correct. A stall on the wire ensued at about 200-250' and winch driver shut the winch down as it became obvious the A/C was lost. This was ascertained as the left wing dropped to the vertical at which point the glider back released and plummeted to the ground. Wreckage is total with very little left of the cockpit. He is lucky to be alive and very lucky not to have internal injuries.
There are a number of possible reasons however the pilot had not been in a condition to interview up to yesterday. The pilot in command had made various attempts previously to improve the ergonomics in the cockpit to suit his body shape and this was known to be a problem for him.
Anyone wanting further details can talk to me off line.
Maurice Little Grampians Soaring Club
At 12:29 PM 10/12/2004, you wrote:
Does anyone know anymore than what was in the paper?
Alban.
Christopher H Thorpe wrote:
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11598107%255E1702,00.html
Man injured after glider accident December 5, 2004
A 59-year-old man has been airlifted to Melbourne in a serious condition after a glider accident at Ararat in Victoria's west.
A police spokeswoman said the gilder crashed during the launch process at Ararat airport shortly after 4pm (AEDT) today. She said the glider was being winched along the runway by an automatic machine when the accident happened. "When the glider reached a height of about 250 feet, it crashed to the ground, still attached to the winch." The man, who was the sole occupant of the glider, suffered chest injuries and fractures to his legs and arms. http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11597822%255E2862, 00.html
Glider's lucky escape
06dec04
A MAN was lucky to escape with his life after his glider plunged 250m yesterday.
The man, aged in his 60s, suffered a fractured leg and a possible fractured arm when his glider crashed and landed on its wing at Ararat airfield about 4pm. The man also had cuts to the head and reported some chest soreness, a Rural Ambulance spokesman said. He was flown by air ambulance to the Alfred hospital.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, 6 December 2004 1:17 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Aus-soaring] Ararat Accident
This morning the ABC reported that there was an accident at Ararat A/D where a glider "fell" from 200m, landing on a wing and causing broken leg/ribs/arm. Serious but stable.
Regards, Phill _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
_______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
_______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
Maurice Little International Trade Management Tullamarine (Melbourne Australia) Tel 613 9335 5133 Fax: 613 9335 5364 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Visit our Web site www.itm.com.au Latest Industry News http://www.itm.com.au/news.html
_______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
