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The glider crash scene, with the downed aircraft still on site. Photo CAA. |
The Civil Aviation Authority completed its on-scene
investigation yesterday into the fatal glider crash near
Omarama.
Hororata farmer Michael John McKellow (60), known as Jo, was
on a recreational flight with a friend in another glider when
his fixed-wing glider lost altitude rapidly and crashed about
10.5km northwest of Omarama about 6.20pm on Wednesday. He
died in the crash.
Two safety investigators from the CAA, Colin Grounsell and
Matt Harris, arrived at Omarama on Thursday.
They have completed their examination of the crash site and
glider wreckage near Omarama.
They were flown by helicopter to the site yesterday morning,
and have now released the wreckage to the owners. The crashed
glider was due to be lifted out of the area yesterday.
Mr Grounsell said the glider wreckage was lying at about
1645m on a tussock-covered slope in a reasonably large open
area of hillside and that there was no difficulty in reaching
it.
The CAA team stayed in the Omarama area yesterday to conduct
interviews, and return to Wellington today.
A preliminary report into the accident is due within four
weeks.
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