On 7 May 2022, the tow-plane flown by Ronald Sanders crashed when, during the aerotow, the glider became out of position causing a tow upset. He died in hospital 12 days later. The safety investigation report, released today by the Civil Aviation Authority, identified several likely contributing factors.
During take-off the glider’s wing contacted the grass resulting in the glider becoming out of position behind the tow plane. After take-off, during an attempt to reposition the glider into the correct tow position, the tow rope became slack. As the tow rope re-tensioned, the glider became further out of position, causing the tow plane to lose control, before impacting trees.
The investigation found that the rope was shorter than the recommended minimum length, which increased the rate at which the upset developed, reducing the reaction time for either pilot to release the tow rope. When the situation became safety-critical the glider pilot was likely startled, preventing an effective response to the emergency.
In a statement released by his family, Ronald is remembered for his good nature and willingness to help those in need.
“He was so precious – a constant support, hardworking, kind, humble and brilliant husband, father and grandfather. We miss him terribly.”
The safety investigation report also highlighted that human factors likely contributed to the accident. Human factors are the aspects of being human that influence how we make decisions and actions, such as our ability to process information, communicate and adapt to situations. The CAA would like to emphasise the importance of understanding human factors in aviation. The CAA is currently updating the human factors section of their website to better support industry through the provision of information and training material.
CAA Deputy Chief Executive Dean Winter expressed condolences for the victim’s family in commenting on the report.
“Every time a pilot doesn’t make it home is a tragedy and I feel deeply sorry for the family. This accident is a sombre reminder for all aviators of how quickly tragedy can strike and how important it is to be aware of risks every time you fly.” he said.
Read the full report: CAA occurrence 22/2536 [PDF 714 KB]
As a family our hearts were broken when we lost Ronald. He was a truly good man, who readily gave his time and skills to assist others whenever he knew they were in need. It has been incredibly difficult as each day passes without Ronald in it. He was so precious – a constant support, hardworking, kind, humble and brilliant husband, father and grandfather. We miss him terribly.
027 763 0000 | media@caa.govt.nz
