FlyingVizsla

Very sorry to hear this news. A fellow aviator and family - thoughts & prayers are with you. Fly free. Sue

ATSB have started the investigation http://www.atsb.com.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-174.aspx Collision with terrain involving Rand Robinson KR-2, VH-CTE, 14 km W Tumut Airport NSW on 5 October 2013 During a private flight from a private airstrip near Tumut NSW to Holbrook NSW, the aircraft collided with terrain. The pilot died in the accident. The ATSB was notified of the accident on Monday, 7 October 2013 and deployed two investigators, with specialisations in engineering and aircraft operations. They arrived at the accident site later that day. A further two investigators, with specialisations in engineering, have been deployed and they expected to arrive at the accident site this morning (Tuesday, 8 October 2013). Over the next few days the team will examine the wreckage and accident site, interview witnesses, and collect maintenance and pilot records. The investigators are seeking witness reports that might assist the investigation. Witnesses are asked to call the ATSB on 1800 020 616. Further updates will be provided as significant information comes to hand. The investigation is continuing. ------------ Hopefully this will give the family & friends some answers. Our thoughts are with them. Sue

VH-CTE

More news, and photo: http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/man-serious-condition-after-plane-plummets-ground/2042599/ Sounds like EFATO. Sue

Have not heard anything, but there is an airstrip on Booyan Rd. Put this into Google Maps -24.72364 152.21689 to pin the intersection of the two strips. Someone we know learnt to fly there. Sue

Pilot was the son of the owners of "Albeni" a cattle grazing property 140km west of Springsure. Mum wrote the book "Pinched or Planted? The Cungelella Cattle Mystery", a good read. They own a C182. The son hired the PA-28 from Victoria for a flight to Charleville. The rest I heard was just speculation, so I'll wait till I hear it from the horses mouth or ATSB. Sue

http://www.aviationtrader.com.au/

Cunnamulla airstrip is about 6km NW of town with PAL lighting. He landed about 9km north. I am guessing, either he didn't have info for Cunnamulla at hand, or he decided it was better to land close to or on a road where a wreck might be obvious. I spent some time in the 1980's at 'cumulla, and again in the 1990's I was in Charleville. Magic place - mulga scrub, vast properties, see forever. Still don't know who it was. Our local paper comes out today, our amateur journo might have ferreted out the info. I got my NVFR in western Qld. Whole different world out there at night. My first nav was from Longreach to Barcaldine and shortly after take off the destination was obvious shining away, with only odd farm house lights. Hit the PAL frequency and the strip would light up in the darkness. The NVFR was to get me home, particularly in winter, when running against headwinds and last light. Sue

Looks like it took a wing off at the root, on a tree. I keep getting calls to ask "was it you?" but so far no one knows who the "Springsure" pilot was, my theory is that the Qld media has got the name confused with something in Vic eg Springvale.

Piper PA-28 VH-CCQ - registered to someone in Victoria. The aircraft was reportedly flying from Melbourne to Charleville and ended up approx 95NM sort of the destination. "9 km north of Cunnamulla, Queensland on 1 October 2013. During the cruise, while maintaining 4,000 ft, the aircraft experienced a total power loss. The pilot conducted a forced landing, at night, into a field. Both occupants received injuries and the aircraft was substantially damaged." ATSB report here http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-168.aspx

ABC has a follow up story with pictures - the passenger used a tablet to email family to help locate them. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/10/02/3860483.htm?site=westqld Still don't know who it is. Everyone here has either a chopper or C182. Sue

Yep, as I am barely 21 & definately Not flying around at night with a 30yr old no matter what he says. I don't know who it is, most probably someone from one of the properties in the area, I can't think of anyone in town that fits the description. The ABC has a story now http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-02/pair-walk-away-from-bush-landing/4993128?section=qld Sue

Heard on the ABC local radio this morning that a plane made an emergency landing after engine stoppage at 8:30pm last night 1st Oct. The pilot, said to be from Springsure (folks, its not me), and passenger are OK. Report in the Australian http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/two-survive-crash-landing-in-qld/story-fn3dxiwe-1226731258462 Nothing on ABC news site yet. Sue

We did a fabric covering workshop at Monto (NorrAus) and one at Narrowmine (Natfly). We also saw a fabric covering demo at Longreach (Qantas Museum). Talking about irons, they suggested a non-steam iron (flat sole). I had one for years called a travel iron. Lighter than a steam iron and without the holes. Does a good job. Husband used his wife's iron (after she died) and put it back on the ironing board. I used it to iron the wedding dress I was sewing and had a job to get the glues out of the satin. Fortunately all was well on the day, but the moral of that story is once used on the plane, never return it to the ironing board. You can get hobby irons that look something like a soldering iron or mini iron on a long stick. These are fabulous for getting into the difficult spots. Craft shops like Lincraft or Spotlight have pinking shears and various implements for fabric covering and aircraft bits like velcro, drawstrings etc for making covers for baggage areas, headset hoods, map pockets etc. I took my husband into the craft section and he found lots of things he could use in the plane. Sue

2009 was indeed a messy year (for financial record keeping and interpretation), some of which was corrected on the 2010 report. In 2009 there was $129,750 noted as 50% of two year memberships paid in advance (Note 10). This was changed to $360,500 for 2009 in the 2010 report - with no explanation. A further prepayment by members of $116,150 was recognised in 2010 (Note 10). There were adjustments made to the 2009 figures: Advertising Aircraft Registrations Flight Crew Member Liability Insurance Member subscriptions Other Expenses Sales of Stock Cash at bank Accrued interest LSL (non current) I seem to remember an article by Steve R saying how fees had to go up because we only made $65k that year. The two year option was stopped because the system in place at the time could not handle the reporting. Employee expenses did go up - remember there was a substantial pay rise granted. The 2010 annual report has Key Personnel - "Any person(s) having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the association" total compensation increased by 79% to $372,696 (total compensation) + $26,948 (post employment benefit). The ABS analysis of Managerial / Admin wages in Canberra showed a 3.5% increase for that period. Now I don't know if this is CEO, Tech Man, Ops Manager, Office Manager or who. The overall staff compensation increased 34.9% in 2010, but fell by 2.9% in 2011 (probably due to vacancies not filled) at a time when we should have been throwing staff resources at getting our house in order. Sue

There was an option for 2 year registrations - we paid in Nov 2008 - the offer was $110 for 12 months or $200 for 24 months for a 2 seater. There was an option for 2 year memberships - we paid in May 2008 - $160 (1yr), $300 (2yr). Interestingly the costs were fully dissected on the invoice:- One Year:- Membership fee $85.00, Insurance fee $37.00, Certificate fee $23.45, GST $14.55 = $160.00 (no mention of magazine) On the annual financial statements the full income of 2 year memberships were recognised in the year it was paid (a bumper year) and the next year appeared very poor. Hence the call to increase fees, because the bottom line said LOSS. The next year the figures were adjusted to correctly recognise these pre-payments. Unfortunately I don't know what formula they used (only the total). I have used: Ex-GST 2yr fee, less one year fee. $78,450 - aircraft (equivalent to approx 958 2seaters or 1,916 seats) $ 159,331 - memberships (approx 1,279 people) Sue

We had this discussion in Sept 2010 - the last fee increase http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/urgent-need-your-advice-on-raaus-fee-increases.15570/#post-124256 That increase was brought about by mishandling the 2 year renewal. Contrary to general accounting practice - those who paid for 2 years had their money counted in that year and no provision was carried through to next year resulting in a small loss for that year. So, to the unwary Board member, it appeared RAA had a bumper year followed by a drought. The Board decided to raise fees, because they didn't understand the situation. These were the days when financial reporting to the membership was, if you were lucky, one audited statement per year delivered months after. For 18 months there was no budget, no one at the helm. There was more discussion around 2010. I believe the Board are better informed now. However, once over this hump, economies of scale and better investment of our spare cash should see us in better shape. Sue

Going on last year's figures - the increase should raise about $212,000. The new GM has undertaken to look at higher yield investment for our cash languishing in the bank, which raised only 3% - 3.5% 2007 to 2009 and less than 5% thereafter. Sue

8,000? "Wot?" sed the A6 "membership is fallin' jus like the Km sed it wood!" This calls for Future of RAoz Plan A7 - Amalgumite agummit amulgn; darn; join up with Poweredparas, AOPA, Gliding fed, EAA, SAAA, CWA, RAA, ASRA & Parashoot mob. Wot to call it ... (sound of spinning cog) ... use the initials .... it spels out ..... There! Hat Shatter. Problem solved without EGO (another clandestine organisation - EAA & GFA of Oz trying to overthrow RAOz). Now, who to invite to coffee where in I can educe the truth without talking ......

Last time I voted, I remembered an envelope within an envelope. That way, if it is accidentally opened before close of voting, the inner envelope remains sealed and unidentifiable. Checking the membership number against the current address ensures the votes go into the correct ballot box. For fear that people south of 22 degrees might stack the result . Seriously, there is some confusion about who is actually in NQ and I've had people way south of that line telling me they haven't got their NQ voting paper . I am pretty certain the envelopes don't get opened until close of voting - in the presence of scrutineers. Sue

Well, Mr & Mrs Flying Vizsla made it to Maryborough Q in 10 & half hours from Gilgandra today, with only one 5 min stop to refuel. Riley - He definately wears the pants as I just have to do what I'm told. Next year we plan to FLY. Then I can winge about the headwinds. I still have 7 hours travel to do (one of us has to work) Poor girls on the RAA table - I mentioned we had two planes grounded and the next gentleman wanted to know what was happening with his grounded plane. They couldn't answer any plane qns. I would have preferred to stay for the whole AGM, but when you are under instruction you have to go with the PIC's flight plan. Strange that the voting numbers bounced around as they did. I thought I saw hands up and proxy numbers up from everyone. There was one motion where the President, seeing that his board was evently split, declined to vote and also abstained all his proxies. There was some discussion that abstaining their votes might be unfair to them, and to the other members as the vote had to be 75% and taking (say 30 - I can't remember) out would give either side a big advantage. The President did say that he rang most of the undirected proxies to guage their feelings on the motions so that he could vote for them with an understanding of their wishes - good on him. The numbers didn't seem much altered from start to finish - however I know that at least 3 did not return after lunch. There was a lot of to-ing & froing with counting and totalling. Got a truck load of goodies from ATSB & CASA. Tried to go to some forums, but He wasn't interested and managed to make us late for anything he wasn't keen on. Terrorised the the Rotax & GPS people and walked the flight line several times a day. The model jet had him fooled - it can't be - its moving too fast. Well it was a model and the fixed wing models did some amazing stuff. We will be back next year (fingers crossed) in my plane. Sue

Been here Thursday, Fri & Sat and did the AGM (but left early). About 54 + board at the AGM and it was going slow. When we left the 6 year limit on board members had passed, but they were revisiting the figures over lunch, now heard it was defeated (who knows?). As the PIC "only wants to fly" I had to compromise and go with him at lunch time, so I don't know the outcome of the majority of the AGM. We walked everywhere, looked for the Avocet on display, but he hasn't turned up. All looked well organised, crowds maybe a little smaller than expected, food everywhere of varying cuisines. It still has that friendly Narromine atmosphere we remembered from previous Natflys. Very satisfied. Bumped into a lot of Tasswegians. The Wright Flyer came out for a "fly" up and down the runway at 7am this morning and would have flown at the end of the air display, but it was deemed just a little gusty - it is a fragile machine. The test pilot is a fellow RANS builder. Airshow was spectacular. We got into the VIP tent (open to SAAA, Warbirds, RAA & AOPA members) close to the action and a bit away from the loud speakers. Good view and uninterupted sounds of engines. Everything, models, Roolettes, Aerobatics, gyro, heli, Moscow airshow, Gummon Avenger with the folding wings, Ag plane doing a water dump. Superb weather for it too. Will be back next year. Sue

Mrs & Mrs Flying Vizsla will be there from Thursday - Sunday. We are staying at Gilgandra (don't ask .... he could have gone closer) and driving. We are not going to any of the dinners but you will see us wandering around - just look for the tallest & shortest. Sue & Alf

I agree with you Don. Resources should have been committed earlier, to fix the lax attitude of the past. I remember the denials, then people volunteering to help out and being told they were not needed. Internal auditing of the files would have pulled up the likes of ours (which must be a slim volume) with no plans or data set for over 20 years. Yet for 20 years it was renewed without any comment. Our two aircraft are at a point where concerted action is required from us. The only help the office can give us is to ring and ask if we need advice or if we would like to give up and cancel the registration. I didn't want the Tech staff blamed for a backlog that consisted of issues that were out of their hands. I can only imagine what's in the pile: - CofA issues going to CASA for a solution Files not looked at yet Waiting for owner response Waiting for tech staff to check owner's response Waiting for CASA's consultant to process The registered fleet is down by 15% and I hope the backlog was not used as a criteria for terminating the Tech Manager. The nub of the issue has been the relationship between the Board and the Tech Managers over many years. I wouldn't take the job. Sue

There isn't a category for "In Limbo" where our two aircraft are ... I guess they are now "cancelled" as it is about 3 months since they fell due. Looks like registrations were growing by about 3% pa prior to November, had they continued it would have added 100 new aircraft by Sept 13 (3425). Adding up the figures for Oct 12 Vs July 13 there's 303 aircraft not mentioned (not taking into account the 3% growth). This might be the In Limbo pile. Sue