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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Into Thick Air...

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Two men are dead after a microlight crash on the East Coast this morning.

The pair flew off from Wairoa Aerodrome around 3.15am and a friend raised the alarm an hour later when they failed to return.

The men were found in the crashed microlight about 400m from the aerodrome by a police search and rescue team around 7.30am.

Police said that the two victims, aged 30 and 39, were both from Wairoa.

Both were experienced microlight pilots but it was believed drink may have been involved.

RCCNZ said it understood that both were qualified microlight pilots and the passenger also worked as an instructor.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said weather conditions in the region were unfavourable for flying with heavy showers, reports of lightning, and patches of fog.

RCCNZ said that the the wreckage of the microlight was spotted by a rescue helicopter about 120m from the northern end of the Wairoa Aerodrome runway. No emergency beacon had been activated. Wairoa police had informed the victims' next-of-kin and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had been advised.

An investigation had been launched into the cause of the crash.

- NZPA

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10512361

Submitted on 05/24/2008

Submitted by: Johnny Irons
Reference: New Zealand Herald 8:42AM Sunday May 25, 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Lacks Excellence
Drinking might have been involved but it hasn't been determined, so we don't know if this was just an unfortunate accident or a result of drinking. Even if it is I consider it to be way too common since people have been drinking, operating all sorts of machinery, and killing themselves, for centuries. On top of all that the passenger may not have had any control of the situation so he'd likely be an innocent bystander. Thanks just the same, Johnny.


James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I am going to beg to differ with my esteemed colleague. My own experience with ultralights was less than positive (when I was in flight training, these "kites" would just fly right into our predetermined flight path and didn't seem to care that we outweighed, outsped, and outgunned them!). Ultralights do NOT take to inclement weather kindly. This is the reason I am awarding a DA. Two presumably experienced ultralight jockeys (I dare not call them pilots) should have known the limitations of their flimsy craft. Add booze to this already dire picture, and it is clear that these gentry had it coming to them! Thanks, Johnny!


Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Alcohol or not, these guys were both knew more than enough to know that even trying to take off was a very bad idea. Doesn't sound like they got very far, either. Thanks, John!


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