Albatros crash in NZ

It does appear that the media, worldwide, has a propensity to describe as ‘a crash’ any (well, many) unintentional alighting of an aeroplane somewhere other than on a runway.

Splitting hairs.
If a plane is destroyed in an off-airport landing, I’m not sure if I see a difference.
As they say…”a wonk is as good as a nod…” The only difference is the rate of impact with the ground and perhaps the degree the pilot is in control. Not much difference at the end of the day if the plane is wrecked.

Also the type of aircraft plays a part.
A bi-plane or sport type that ends up on its nose in a farmer’s field is seen as harmless.
An A320 (or even Spitfire) ending its flight in similar circumstances is not seen quite so benignly.

I thought it was moderator policy NOT to include sub-scale replica news here..putting all such discussion to the General Aviation page.

It’s a Bank Holiday in New Zealand and only real news has been the All Blacks beating the Boks at old Twicks. Cub reporters are left to run the news stories,

However, in this case the aircraft has ended up rather bent!
See ODT link above.

It does appear that the media, worldwide, has a propensity to describe as ‘a crash’ any (well, many) unintentional alighting of an aeroplane somewhere other than on a runway. Maybe it’s indicative of a wish to attract readers by using a headline that is ‘sensational’, even if in so doing it is ‘economical with the truth’. So watch out, you glider pilots, or every time you have to land out you’ll find the local media reporting something along the following lines …..

‘PLANE CRASHES IN FARMER’S FIELD

Local glider club members crashed their plane in Farmer Giles field. When our reporter arrived at the crash site, there was no sign of the plane’s engine which must have broken off in flight, causing it to crash. The impact of the crash was so great that it broke the wings off the plane. Our reporter saw these lying in the field next to the plane’s body. The gliding club emergency crash vehicle was soon on site. It must have left the airfield in a hurry because although the emergency stretch trailer had been painted white, red crosses had not yet been painted on its sides. The remains of the crashed plane were loaded onto the crash vehicle. The victims of the crash were carried away in the club’s ‘plain clothed’ ambulance. An official inquiry will be held by the club’s CFI (Controller For Inquiries). Local resident, Ivan Ackstogrinde, told our reporter: ‘It’s always happening. That gliding club doesn’t maintain its planes properly. You can hear that the engine’s not working because there’s no sound before they crash. They should be banned. That airfield ought to be put to a community use – like opening a new branch of Tesco.’

Tom Grant is a well known builder, and the Albi D5 replica is a nice machine.

At Timaru 9Nov2010

Dave Paull photo

Judging from the news reports it was more of a forced landing rather than a crash, and the damage is reported as relatively minor.

I’m glad the pilot escaped almost unscathed. A shame about the aeroplane though 🙁

ZK-DVR 3/4 scale built by Tom Grant with a Toyota engine.

Unfortunately most of us here don’t read the NZ papers. Could you possibly provide a link?

I found these:-

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11534552

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/360616/light-plane-crashes-near-dunedin

After reading the original post, I thought it was one of the TVAL machines, but it appears it wasn’t.

Good to hear the pilot was ok.

Cheers

Paul

Unfortunately most of us here don’t read the NZ papers. Could you possibly provide a link?