The glider on a Ribbonwood Station mountain top in January,
before it was removed. Photo by CAA.
An investigation into a fatal glider crash near Omarama
earlier this year is near completion, according to the Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA).
Hororata farmer Michael John "Joe" McKellow (60) was killed
when his fixed-wing glider crashed on Snowy Top, on
Ribbonwood Station, in January. CAA corporate communications
manager Mike Richards said a full investigation into the
incident was now "essentially complete."
However, Mr Richards said the investigation was still reliant
on further information coming from "other agencies."
He said he was unable to give a firm date on when that
information was expected to be received.
Mr McKellow had taken off in good conditions from Omarama
airfield on January 12, with fellow members of the Canterbury
Gliding Club.
Club president Kevin Bethwaite said he would be interested in
the findings of the final report, but added that club members
had already "all learnt" from the tragedy.
Mr McKellow's death had been a "wake-up call" for many, he
said.
"Certainly, it was a soul-searching time for the club, to say
there was a guy who had plenty of competency.
"In another way, Joe's accident has made us all safer, and
that's a comment I hear from a lot of glider pilots: 'Just be
careful'."
andrew.ashton@odt.co.nz
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