Two dead in a motor glider crash Mt Beauty Vic 27/04/2024

[red750]

Two people were killed when a motor glider crashed at Mt Beauty in Victoria's north eastern highlands. The deceased passenger was a female, no further details at this time.

[red750]

From what I saw on the news, it could have been a Diamond HK36 Super Dimona. This is not confirmed.

[rankamateur]

https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/GUM on the news footage. No effort to conceal the rego.

[red750]

The motor glider at an Avalon airshow..

 

[walrus]

Does the pilot live at.  mt. Beauty? i believe there is one gentleman there with a motor glider.

[Area-51]

2 hours ago, walrus said:

Does the pilot live at.  mt. Beauty? i believe there is one gentleman there with a motor glider.

Aircraft from Bacchus Marsh...

[red750]

On the TV this morning, they reported that the flight was to spread the ashes of a deceased relative of the female passenger.

[skippydiesel]

Nice looking aircraft.

I would have expected a glider to be able to make at least a survivable "out landing" - inflight breakup/fire???

Wikipedia says the stall speed is 39 Knots -  seems high for a glider, even my Sonex with little stubby wings stalls at 37 Knots (full flap)

My reason for mentioning stall speed - in general, the lower the stall the better the chance of survival.

[red750]

Police said the pilot was a 73-year-old man from Plenty and the pair were the only people on board the aircraft.  -   ABC News.

 

Channel 7 said he was the father of 3, a builder, CFA firefighter and gliding instructor.

[KRviator]

7 hours ago, red750 said:

On the TV this morning, they reported that the flight was to spread the ashes of a deceased relative of the female passenger.

Wonder how they planned to do that in an aircraft with gullwing doors?

I've done the same thing from the RV with the tip-up canopy, but not from within the cabin, rather, from a pod bolted under the wing.

[red750]

6 pm news advise his name was Greg Wanless. A witness said the plane was on approach when it pitched up, then suddenly pitched down and hit the ground.

[Methusala]

The Mt Beauty strip is operated as 1-way because of the embankment  on the town end. It could have happened that approach was mis- judged and attempt made to go around. I dunno, just an idle opinion. 

[Roundsounds]

1 hour ago, KRviator said:

Wonder how they planned to do that in an aircraft with gullwing doors?

I've done the same thing from the RV with the tip-up canopy, but not from within the cabin, rather, from a pod bolted under the wing.

Through the window vent no doubt. 

[facthunter]

There's updates on channel 9. very sad affair. Nev

[turboplanner]

Nose down into the ground before it reached the runway.

[Red]

There used to be a VGS (RAF run Volunteer Glider Squadron) at my home base that used those Grobs to give Air Cadets air experience flights they had Limbach 80 hp engines making them rather underpowered for their weight, a go around with rising terrain to contend with would not be a good situation in one of these and could well lead to a stall

(not saying this is what happened here just proffering a possible scenario)

[Kenlsa]

We had a Grob 109 at our field and during our 60th anniversary open day I was a passenger in it for a display.  We had a small rain shower leaving drops on the wing. We didn’t make it to our go/no go point due to the lack of lift provided by the wet wings.  Turned back, dried the wing and completed the display.  The pilot said that this was a known Grob issue.  
Ken

[facthunter]

How is a wet wing an engine issue? Only if it's a power and drag issue. The plane pitched up and then nose down. I doubt that  is likely with an experienced pilot unless something else happened..  Nev

[Kenlsa]

Nominally 80 hp on a good day, with 620kg empty and 850kg at max weight, direct drive 60 inch prop ( though 2 speed manual change, being a rope zip starter style on the instrument panel !) it is on its max performance zone. 100 hp Rotax with reduction drive would make all the difference. 
Ken

[facthunter]

Gliders are much more aerodynamically efficient than most other category of aircraft in  the same mass regimes. Need less thrust.   Nev

[Blueadventures]

49 minutes ago, Kenlsa said:

We had a Grob 109 at our field and during our 60th anniversary open day I was a passenger in it for a display.  We had a small rain shower leaving drops on the wing. We didn’t make it to our go/no go point due to the lack of lift provided by the wet wings.  Turned back, dried the wing and completed the display.  The pilot said that this was a known Grob issue.  
Ken

Similar for PIK20's

[Area-51]

The 109 with a high lift wing option is 30:1 at 860kg; amazing and robust  performer yet underpowered with standard 80hp Limbach. Unexciting powered climb performance is its weak point exacerbated further when two up.

[JMLIS]

Many years ago I "babysat" one for about a year for a friend while he was overseas. Operated from a 500 metre bush strip in the Nadewar Ranges. Ridge soaring was very effective. Seem to recall it's climb performance loaded was similar to a 300 hp Agwagon with half a ton of superphosphate. The Ag aircraft was capable of carrying more, but not sure I was! The prop had fine, cruise and feathered positions.

[facthunter]

When you climb you gain potential energy which is mass x height. 

Edited June 7 by facthunter

[facthunter]

As a glider the aggy plane is a different beast. ( I'm having trouble posting , Bear with me.) they are at opposite ends of the L/D spectrum Perform an entirely different function..    Nev