Two Die In New Zealand; NTSB On Fatal Shorts Collision

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Two private pilots were killed in a midair collision last Thursday in New Zealand. Witnesses said the two Piper Cherokees had been flying in close proximity at about 1,500 feet MSL for about 15 minutes, apparently practicing maneuvers, when the wing of one clipped the tail of the other, according to The New Zealand Herald. Both pilots were training for their commercial certificates. It was the first fatal midair in New Zealand since 1993. Also last week, the NTSB released a preliminary report on the midair collision of two Shorts cargo aircraft last Sunday in Juneau, Wisc. (which we mistakenly placed in Alaska in Thursday’s AVwebFlash). The two airplanes had departed from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and were flying in formation about 100 to 150 apart on a photo flight when one of the airplanes entered a turn. The other pilot was unable to avoid the turning aircraft and the two collided, the NTSB said. One of the aircraft crashed and burned, and the three people on board died. The second aircraft lost hydraulics but was able to complete an emergency landing at UNU with no flaps and partially extended gear. The pilot and co-pilot were not hurt, and the passenger reported minor injuries.

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