Distraction led to fatal crash
PA Wellington An unlatched canopy distracted the pilot of a glider who died in a crash near Hastings aerodrome, said the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr Ron Chippindale, in a report. Reporting on the crash of a Grob GlO2 glider on October 30 last year, in which the pilot, Thomas David Stewart, aged 66, was fatally injured, Mr Chippindale said that the glider canopy had started to open during the take-off, as a result of its not being latched. Mr Stewart had released the glider from the tow at a
low height to return to the aerodrome, but inadvertently stalled it and went into a spiral dive or spin. He had flown a total of 209 hours in gliders, and another 890 hours in powered aircraft. Mr Chippindale said that the canopy latch was secure and effective, but required a deliberate action by the pilot to work it and a visual check to confirm it was latched. On the same aircraft, the canopy.had once before opened while the glider was under tow, but the pilot at that time had been able to hold it closed without difficulty.
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Press, 4 October 1984, Page 12
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193Distraction led to fatal crash Press, 4 October 1984, Page 12
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