On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 09:14:59 GMT, "Mal.com"
wrote:


Hunt for clues to freak glider crash


By NICK HIGGINS




THE wreckage of two gliders which collided over the Dookie Hills on Sunday
was examined yesterday by a gliding club instructor, coroner and police
officers.

A Moonee Ponds man, Mr David Coup, 63, was killed as a result of the crash
while a second pilot, 53, of Flemington, survived after deploying his
parachute.

Hi
Does anyone know what kind of parachute it was or how he got hurt?

He was taken to Goulburn Valley Base Hospital and treated for a broken arm.

Among those at the crash site yesterday was gliding instructor with the
Benalla-based Gliding Club of Victoria, Mr John Millot.

The glider flown by the surviving pilot, believed to be an instructor,
appeared largely intact and Mr Millot said this suggested it had a
"relatively gentle" descent with the most obvious structural damage being
found underneath the aircrafts nose.

He said because the pilot had bailed out of the glider it was unusual for
the canopy to remain partly attached to the glider.

"Normally the canopy would completely detach, I would have to speak to the
pilot to find out what happened," Mr Millot said.

He said it was common for pilots to wear parachutes and he believed the dead
pilot would also have worn one.

The canopy of the glider flown by Mr Coup was found 200m from the rest of
the aircraft and there has been speculation the pilot may have released the
canopy and attempted to bail out.

The glider was quite damaged but it is unclear what damage occurred mid-air.

Both pilots had several years experience and flew regularly from Benalla.

"They were not novices. They were flying relatively high-performance,
cross-country ma-chines," Mr Millot said.

He said it was the first time he had known anyone from the gliding club to
use a parachute.

Is he aware he'se eligable for the Catapillar Club?

THOM

Both men were flying modern, German-made LS7 gliders made of carbon, glass
fibre and reinforced plastics and glass.

The gliders came to rest about 600m apart.

Mr Millot said he would compile a report that he would provide to the
coroner.

Members of the gliding club yesterday drew strength from each other as they
sat at the club house remembering a fellow pilot and friend.

"The pilot was well liked," one member said.

"He was a good bloke and now we dont have him."