Andy Hurst dies at Mt. Beauty airfield

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The Oz Report
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Andy Hurst dies at Mt. Beauty airfield

Post by The Oz Report »

<i>Flew with us at Forbes and the Bogong Cup</i><span class="GoogleMapLink"><a href="http://ozreport.com/GoogleEarth/-36.732 ... alia"><img src="http://ozreport.com/images/GoogleEarth.gif" alt="-36.732556,147.156715,Mt.+Beauty,+VIC,+Australia"></a>(<a href="http://ozreport.com/GoogleMap/-36.73255 ... +Australia" target="_new" style="text-decoration:none">Mt. Beauty, VIC, Australia</a>)</span><p>Andy Hurst, who came over from Britain to fly in the Forbes Flatlands and the Bogong Cup, was killed attempting to land at the Mt. Beauty airfield on Wednesday evening. These are the main stream media stories as gathered automatically on the <a target="_blank" href="http://ozreport.com">Oz Report web site</a>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/briti ... l">here</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local ... /p><p>Andy had been flying for only three years and it was great flying with him at Forbes and at the Bogong Cup. I reported on his flying during the Bogong Cup in previous articles. His Moyes Litespeed had been damaged in transport to Forbes (after it was left behind for one day in England) and he was on a borrowed Litesport.</p><p>If he indeed hit a tree it is most likely to be the one in the southwest corner of the airfield next to the pond. It is not 50 meters high.</p><p><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... ><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 9&t=h&z=14" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small></p><p>I am very sorry to hear that Andy has died and my sympathies go out to his family.</p>
Crfly
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Re: Andy Hurst dies at Mt. Beauty airfield

Post by Crfly »

The Oz Report wrote:<i>Flew with us at Forbes and the Bogong Cup</i><span class="GoogleMapLink"><a href="http://ozreport.com/GoogleEarth/-36.732 ... alia"><img src="http://ozreport.com/images/GoogleEarth.gif" alt="-36.732556,147.156715,Mt.+Beauty,+VIC,+Australia"></a>(<a href="http://ozreport.com/GoogleMap/-36.73255 ... +Australia" target="_new" style="text-decoration:none">Mt. Beauty, VIC, Australia</a>)</span><p>Andy Hurst, who came over from Britain to fly in the Forbes Flatlands and the Bogong Cup, was killed attempting to land at the Mt. Beauty airfield on Wednesday evening. These are the main stream media stories as gathered automatically on the <a target="_blank" href="http://ozreport.com">Oz Report web site</a>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/briti ... l">here</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local ... /p><p>Andy had been flying for only three years and it was great flying with him at Forbes and at the Bogong Cup. I reported on his flying during the Bogong Cup in previous articles. His Moyes Litespeed had been damaged in transport to Forbes (after it was left behind for one day in England) and he was on a borrowed Litesport.</p><p>If he indeed hit a tree it is most likely to be the one in the southwest corner of the airfield next to the pond. It is not 50 meters high.</p><p><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... ><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 9&t=h&z=14" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small></p><p>I am very sorry to here that Andy has died and my sympathies go out to his family.</p>
We did know Andy in Bogong and we cannot believe about this bad news,ours condolences to his family and friends.
Nuccia and Francesco
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Post by Ridgerodent »

I never met the man, I only know him from his post. Still, I feel sick
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glendeco
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Post by glendeco »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n41G_gw7K1I
Andy was excited to come fly with us. We loaned him a glider and he stayed and flew for three days. Very cool dude indeed. I would like to know why this happened and how it could have been prevented. Hang Gliding is fun and all, but still, it's aviation. I just can't believe it. Or should I say I don't want to believe it. Rest in peace brother.
Quit laughing! I think i broke something....
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Davis
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Post by Davis »

The winds were 14 knots gusting to 21 at Falls Creek and 13 knots gusting to 19 at Wangaratta both west and both at 4:30 PM on the 26th.
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Davis
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Post by Davis »

Just received a report for a local hang glider pilot that the winds at Mt. Beauty were as I reported at Falls Creek and at Wangaratta. 13 knots gusting. Apparently the falling air mass could be seen on the pond next to the air field. Southwest winds (coming not up the valley, but from the hills and mountains behind the hills).
Lorenzo
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Re: Andy Hurst dies at Mt. Beauty airfield

Post by Lorenzo »

I am deeply saddened by the loss of Andy. I knew him and he was a friend.

Lorenzo.
Last edited by Lorenzo on Fri, Jan 28 2011, 05:13:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Gordonrigg
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Post by Gordonrigg »

Andy was with me and Lorenzo in France last year and with Kathleen in Italy last easter.
This is a deadfull loss of probably the most keen and promising young pilots in the UK
Last edited by Gordonrigg on Fri, Jan 28 2011, 04:57:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Davis
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Post by Davis »

Another local pilot writes:

I was out at Mountain Creek at the time - it was gusty out there at 4.30pm (I know the time because I got a family sms at 4.40pm) & I remember looking at the clouds moving quite quickly over the trees & wondering how the hangies from Emu would have fared. With the amount of northerly component I was surprised they were able to get off Emu - maybe it was good on launch though. Hot day, thermic, .... was at home & said the conditions changed from N/NW to SW very dramatically at one stage - possibly around the time of the accident?
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Davis
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Post by Davis »

http://www.exalander.com/mbgc/Updates/M ... 110127.pdf
Hang Glider Accident at Mt Beauty on 26 January

A hang glider pilot who was a visitor from the UK crashed into the Mt Beauty water treatment plant property adjacent to the south end of the airfield while attempting to land into a strong SW crosswind. The hang glider clipped a tree on a low approach and Struck the ground vertically just outside the airfield boundary fence.

The accident was observed by MBGC members Ian Douglas, Andrew Evans and George Vasiliadis and another hang glider pilot who all ran to the scene of the accident.

Ian yelled to the others to call an ambulance as the pilot appeared to be severely injured and was unconscious.

George rang 000 for an ambulance while Ian and the other hang glider pilot commenced CPR on the pilot and Andrew cut the pilot free from the entangled hang glider wires.

CPR was continued until the ambulance officers arrived with the patient resuming breathing sporadically, but unfortunately soon afterwards the ambulance officers pronounced the pilot dead.

Andrew said that the incident highlighted the necessity for all of us to have knowledge of how to administer CPR and first aid. He said that Ian Douglas and the other hang glider pilot did a magnificent job of attempting to resuscitate the critically injured pilot.