Rnzaf Ct-4 Crash, Pilot Killed -, Red Checker team member on solo practice

[Luig]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10620124

RNZAF pilot killed in training plane crash - Thursday Jan 14, 2010

An Air Force pilot has died after a training aeroplane crashed near the Manawatu town of Bull this morning.

"It is with deep regret that I must confirm that the Royal New Zealand Air Force has lost a pilot following a fatal crash in the Manawatu this morning," Chief of Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott said.

The RNZAF Base Ohakea lost contact with the CT-4 Trainer plane at about 8am this morning.

The plane was from the Air Force's Red Checkers display team and was being used for a routine practice.

Air Force spokesman Kave Tamariki said the pilot would not be named until family had been notified of the death.

He said an investigation was under way and the cause of the crash was not yet known.

An Air Force Iroquois helicopter and emergency services are at the scene of the crash. - NZ HERALD STAFF

"LATEST: An Air Force pilot killed in an air crash this morning earlier served in Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

Squadron leader Nick Cree, 32, died when the two-seater CT-4 Trainer he was flying crashed near the Raumai weapons range at Santoft, 18km west of Bulls, shortly after 8am.

At a press conference at Ohakea Air Base this afternoon, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott said Mr Cree joined the Air Force in 1996 and qualified as a flying instructor in 2005. He served in two missions to Timor Leste and one to the Solomon Islands.

The Red Checkers display team pilot is survived by his wife and young son, who was born last year."

This post has been edited by Luig on Jan 14 2010, 11:32 AM

[Luig]

Red Checkers grounded after second accident

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/red-checkers-grounded-after-second-accident-3386858

The Air Force's Red Checkers aerobatics team will be grounded for the rest of the season after a training accident on Monday morning - the second in as many months, following a fatal crash in January.

A Red Checkers display aircraft suffered minor damage when it touched another aircraft during training today. It landed safely about 9.30am.

The incident came less than two months since Squadron Leader Nick Cree died when his aircraft crashed during training on January 14 near Bulls.

Air force training group commander Group Captain Stephen Howard said there were always risks when planes flew in close proximity.

"We are continually focussed on making our flying operations as safe as possible," he says.

"How this incident happened is now being investigated as a matter of course and the prudent decision is not to fly the team again this season. We apologise to all of those who were looking forward to see the Red Checkers display this year."

The Red Checkers last month pulled out of a display at Napier, but did not given reasons.

The team had been heartened by the response of the New Zealand public since Sqd Ldr Cree's death, and was grateful for their support, Gp Capt Howard says.