Air Corps PC-9 has crashed in Connemara

[Pink Panther]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1012/cornamona.html

Unconfirmed reports say it might possibly be a PC-9, hope they are wrong. 

[Frank]

Unfortunately it's not looking good:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1012/breaking73.htm

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Fears for crew as Air Corps plane crashes in Co Galway

Two Air Corps members are feared dead tonight after their plane crashed on the Galway-Mayo border.

It is understood the aircraft went down shortly after 6pm during a training exercise.

The Pilatus PC-9, carrying two people, had been on a routine exercise with two other planes when it went down.

A spokesman for the Defence Forces said: “I can confirm that an Air Corps aircraft is missing on the Galway-Mayo border, north of Lough Corrib.”

Air accident investigators from the Department of Transport are en route to the scene in Cornamona, Connemara.

Gardaí and emergency services are also at the scene.

The stricken plane was reported flying low near the village before a loud bang
was heard from a distance.

A spokeswoman from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said a local woman raised the alarm.

“It was one of three Air Corps aircraft in the area this afternoon,” the IAA spokeswoman said.

“At around 6pm a woman rang the air traffic control in Shannon to report that a plane had gone low overhead and that she heard a loud bang immediately after.”

[Frank]

2 Air Corps crew are officially missing after the crash - RTE Nine O'Clock News

[Frank]

RTE Nine O'Clock News report: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1012/cornamona_av.html

[Frank]

Defence Forces Press Office
12 October 2009. 11.10 pm.

Statement
The crew and wreckage of the Air Corps Pilatus PC 9 reported missing this evening have been located and the two crew members, the flight instructor and cadet pilot, are unfortunately confirmed dead. Their remains are at the scene of the crash, which has been sealed off by local Gardaí and Fire Crews.

The crash site will be examined at first light tomorrow morning by Air Accident Investigators from the Air Corps and Department of Transport. The remains of the two crew can only be removed after the scene has been cleared of the explosives from the PC 9 ejector seats which would be at the crash site also.

Names of the crew of the aircraft will not be released until it is confirmed that their families have been informed by Air Corps personnel. The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley and the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brigadier General Ralph James have expressed their deepest sympathies on behalf of the Defence Forces at this difficult time for the families of these deceased airmen.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Note: The location of the crash site is in the area of Crumlin-East/Crumlin West, north of Lough Corrib, on the Galway-Mayo border.
ENDS.

-------------------------------

May both crew members Rest In Peace, my condolences go to their families.

As a mark of respect I have changed the header images for both IrishAirPics.com & WorldAirPics.com to black & white.

Thank you in advance for not speculating on the cause of this unfortunate crash.


Regards,

Frank.

[Blue Monday]

Very sad news.

R.I.P.

 BM.
 

[Fouga]

R.I.P.

[REMF]

I got the news Monday at 2000hrs, I was shocked and saddened. I deal with all the pilots and Cadets on a daily basis. Although I know the names I won`t say anything until thy`re officially released. We will endeavour to give them the send off they deserve.

[Shamrock145]

R.I.P.

Condolonces to their families, friends and loved ones.

...145

[RMR]

R.I.P lads......

[Frank]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1013/breaking4.htm

-------------------------------------

Air Corps pilots killed in training flight

CONOR LALLY and LORNA SIGGINS

Separate investigations by the Defence Forces and the aviation authority are underway after two Air Corps pilots were killed when their training flight crashed in Co Mayo yesterday evening.

The captain and cadet were manning a two-seater training plane that came down about five miles west of Cong village after 6pm.

A spokeswoman for the Irish Aviation Authority said a local woman had raised the alarm after a loud bang was heard in the area where three Air Corps aircraft had been flying.

“At around 6pm a woman rang the air traffic control in Shannon to report that a plane had gone low overhead and that she heard a loud bang immediately after.”

The other two Pilatus PC 9 aircraft and crew landed safely at Galway Airport, where all three aircraft had been due to refuel shortly after 6pm.

The planes had taken off at 5.45pm from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co Dublin, for their training flights across the country. The plane that went down was reported missing about 35 minutes after takeoff.

After air traffic control at Shannon was notified an Irish Coast Guard helicopter was despatched from Shannon. The wreckage was then located in Crimlin east.

The search was focused on the area of Crimlin-East/Crimlin-West, between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask.

Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea said: “I am receiving regular updates from the Chief of Staff on the unfolding situation. My thoughts and prayers are with the two men and their families at this time.”

The crash scene was described by military sources as a “rugged and mountainous” spot where low-flying exercises are carried out.

Emergency lighting had been erected at the crash scene last night in a bid to aid the search. Gardaí from Clifden sealed off the area and units of the local fire brigade were assisting the search.

There were reports last night the plane was attempting to make an emergency landing when it crashed.

Separate investigations by the Defence Forces and the aviation authority have commenced in an effort to establish the cause of the crash. Air Corps personnel travelled to the homes of the two pilots to break the news to their families of their deaths. The Irish Times understands the cadet under training was from Co Wexford while the other pilot was a senior instructor from the south Dublin area.

Their plane was one of eight Pilatus PC 9 aircraft that went into service in 2004. Air accident investigator teams from the Air Corps and the Department of Transport were travelling to Mayo last night.

[Frank]

The names of the deceased crew have been released, they are Captain Derek Furniss (32) and Cadet David Jevens (22).

I met both of these guys at the air firing sessions in 2008 and I have to say the both of them were extremely nice & helpful, I'm sure they will be sadly missed by all who know them.

Further details, including a picture of Captain Furniss with Cadet Jevens in better times, are available on the RTE website here:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1013/cornamona.html


Regards,

Frank.

--------------------------------------

Two pilots die in Air Corps crash
 Tuesday, 13 October 2009 11:53
Air accident investigators have gone to the scene of last night's air crash in Connemara in which two Air Corps pilots lost their lives.

Captain Derek Furniss and Cadet David Jevens were taking part in a training flight, in what were described as poor weather conditions, at the time of the crash.

The bodies are not expected to be removed from the crash scene until later today.

The Air Corps took this decision because the aircraft has ejector seats - which contain explosive charges - and these will have to be removed by army ordinance experts.

Rescue teams who reached the scene last night said the plane had crashed in exceptionally rough and rocky terrain, 2km from the nearest road.

They said debris had been scattered over an adjoining area.

So far there is no indication of what caused the crash.

Weather conditions in the area deteriorated overnight and there is low cloud and heavy mist in the mountain valley where the Pilatus PC-9 aircraft crashed.

Captain Derek Furniss joined the Defence Forces in October 1994 and is a qualified pilot since 1996 and a qualified flight instructor since 1999.

He has over 3,000 flight hours and was the Chief Flight Instructor on the Pilatus aircraft and member of the Air Corps PC-9 Display Team. Cpt Furniss, originally from Ballinteer in Dublin, was not married but was living with his partner in Dublin.

Cadet David Jevens joined the Defence Forces as an Air Corps Cadet in 2006 and was at the advanced stages of flight training on the PC-9 with over 160 flight hours and 50 simulator training hours over the past three years flight training. He was due for commissioning as a pilot later this year. Cadet Jevens was single and was from Glynn, Co Wexford.


President Mary McAleese said she had learned with 'shock and sadness' of the tragic deaths of two members of the Air Corps, while Taoiseach Brian Cowen extended his sympathy to their families and to the Air Corps saying he too was shocked and saddened to learn of the accident.

[FiSe]

Have only heard this shocking and very sad news this morning...

RIP

[Viper]

My thoughts and prayers with the deceased and their families.

Rest In Peace.

[pilatus]

This is very sad indeed, i heard about the crash on a news bulletin on the way home from work last night and couldnt believe it. RIP