Horizon City (near El Paso,Tx.) G 103 winch accident.

I just found out a short time ago that on Saturday,9-01-2012, during a winch launch, the El Paso Clubs G 103 crashed. John Hardy, Sr. was rushed to the hospital. Later that night after taking pain medication, he stopped breathing and passed on.
Godspeed John Hardy, Sr., you will be missed.

John Hardy, Sr. was a close friend and he will be greatly missed. He was the patriarch, heart and soul of the El Paso Soaring Society.

The club's tow plane has been grounded for weeks waiting for a new engine, and two of the three club gliders were to be sold to pay for it. The remaining club glider, the Grob 103, would have been kept and shared among the fourteen club members. The winch, which has rarely been used, was intended to keep the club alive until the tow plane could be repaired.

Let's all lift our postflight cans of beer high: John, I will miss you dearly. Thank-you for all you have given to me, and to your club.

I'm off tow,
Chris Fleming
F2

On Monday, September 3, 2012 4:21:51 AM UTC-5, Fox Two wrote:
John Hardy, Sr. was a close friend and he will be greatly missed. He was the patriarch, heart and soul of the El Paso Soaring Society. The club's tow plane has been grounded for weeks waiting for a new engine, and two of the three club gliders were to be sold to pay for it. The remaining club glider, the Grob 103, would have been kept and shared among the fourteen club members. The winch, which has rarely been used, was intended to keep the club alive until the tow plane could be repaired. Let's all lift our postflight cans of beer high: John, I will miss you dearly. Thank-you for all you have given to me, and to your club. I'm off tow, Chris Fleming F2

I have to agree with Chris. John WAS the heart & soul of the El Paso Soaring Society. He was a CFIG, a DPE, and Chief Tow Pilot. He'd probably done close to 11,000 tows over the years. It will be impossible to replace him.

Enjoyed flying with you, John. Gonna miss you.

Mike J.
B7

Anybody have any details on this crash?

Jack Wyman

On Sunday, September 2, 2012 10:25:39 PM UTC-6, Tom Kelley wrote:
I just found out a short time ago that on Saturday,9-01-2012, during a winch launch, the El Paso Clubs G 103 crashed. John Hardy, Sr. was rushed to the hospital. Later that night after taking pain medication, he stopped breathing and passed on.

Godspeed John Hardy, Sr., you will be missed.

Tom, do you have any specific details of the accident? I tried to contact Chris Flemming but the e-mail address I had for him bounced.

Bill Daniels

On Tuesday, September 4, 2012 11:08:17 AM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
On Sunday, September 2, 2012 10:25:39 PM UTC-6, Tom Kelley wrote: I just found out a short time ago that on Saturday,9-01-2012, during a winch launch, the El Paso Clubs G 103 crashed. John Hardy, Sr. was rushed to the hospital. Later that night after taking pain medication, he stopped breathing and passed on. Godspeed John Hardy, Sr., you will be missed. Tom, do you have any specific details of the accident? I tried to contact Chris Flemming but the e-mail address I had for him bounced. Bill Daniels

Jack, Bill,

I can give you some details, but I'd rather not put them on this forum just yet. This is probably not smart, but here is my number: 512-627-5294. Give me a call between 8:00AM and 6:00PM CDT and I'll try to answer your questions.

BTW, Chris is living in France now and probably has a new Email address.

Mike J.

On Sunday, September 2, 2012 10:25:39 PM UTC-6, Tom Kelley wrote:
I just found out a short time ago that on Saturday,9-01-2012, during a winch launch, the El Paso Clubs G 103 crashed. John Hardy, Sr. was rushed to the hospital. Later that night after taking pain medication, he stopped breathing and passed on.

Godspeed John Hardy, Sr., you will be missed.

Sorry to hear about John's passing. We were very close friends in the first El Paso sky diving club and the original soaring club. He was a great guy- bought beer for me when he was 21 and I wasn't!
John Wheatley
El Prado, NM (near Taos)

Tom, do you have any specific details of the accident? I tried to contact Chris Flemming but the e-mail address I had for him bounced.



Bill Daniels

Chris can be contacted thru his Facebook account. I just received additional information. It may never be found as to what was the cause of this accident. Also, it may take up to a year or longer for the NTSB to issue its final report.

Concerning my original post, I felt many folks knew John Hardy, Sr., so if anyone would like information concerning services, please email me . I will past them on to you.

Regards, #711.

On Monday, September 3, 2012 4:15:46 PM UTC+5:30, Mike J. wrote:
On Monday, September 3, 2012 4:21:51 AM UTC-5, Fox Two wrote:

John Hardy, Sr. was a close friend and he will be greatly missed. He was the patriarch, heart and soul of the El Paso Soaring Society. The club's tow plane has been grounded for weeks waiting for a new engine, and two of the three club gliders were to be sold to pay for it. The remaining club glider, the Grob 103, would have been kept and shared among the fourteen club members. The winch, which has rarely been used, was intended to keep the club alive until the tow plane could be repaired. Let's all lift our postflight cans of beer high: John, I will miss you dearly. Thank-you for all you have given to me, and to your club. I'm off tow, Chris Fleming F2



I have to agree with Chris. John WAS the heart & soul of the El Paso Soaring Society. He was a CFIG, a DPE, and Chief Tow Pilot. He'd probably done close to 11,000 tows over the years. It will be impossible to replace him.



Enjoyed flying with you, John. Gonna miss you.



Mike J.

B7

It has been over a year after we lost John and I would like to say that John not only was but he still IS the heart and soul of El Paso Soaring Society. Unfortunately, I got to know him for a very short time, but I am proud and lucky enough to sa that I washer student, and that I will never forget what he taught me in terms of flying because he made me love this more, he made flying for me more than a hobby, he made think of flying as something different, as a way of living, as a passion.
We miss you John.
Melissa M. Carrillo