Plane Hits Ferris Wheel – IOTW Report

Plane Hits Ferris Wheel

 

The New South Wales supreme court has released footage of a plane crashing into a ferris wheel near Taree airport in 2011. The collision was filmed by a girl on the ride, Amber Christine Arndell. Arndell, now 21, says she consequently suffers psychological problems and she’s suing the Greater Taree city council as well as the pilot of the plane. The pilot, Paul Clarendon Cox, is also suing the council for allowing the ferris wheel to be located near the Taree airstrip which he claims was a potential obstruction and hazardous to aircraft.
ht/ petrus

16 Comments on Plane Hits Ferris Wheel

  1. Frankly, I’m impressed with the Ferris wheel builder. Quite an endorsement for their company.

    “No worries mate, this ride is rated to Cessna-120. Safe as your muthers arms.”

    Meanwhile….across town…

    “JOHNSON! GET ME BLUEPRINTS ON A FERRIS WHEEL RATED TO BEECHCRAFT BONANZA!!! WE’LL SHOW THOSE BLOODY PIKERS!!”

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  2. for all you armchair pilots sitting in your mommmies basement.

    it’s not the pilot’s fault. From the air that ferris wheel would have been almost impossible to see. Why on earth would anyone allow that tall of an obstruction be built that close to an airport? The airport was there first, it’s not like it suddenly appeared.
    The people who built the wheel, and the people who allowed it are at fault.
    Everyone involved should be glad that it was a “very” light plane.

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  3. I’ll agree with PaulS…

    That looks like one of those portable / truck mounted carnival rides. In which case, setting it up in the flight path to the airport would be a very big deal. At the very least there should have been a aviation authority site screening, and NOTAM’s published. Having flown Cessna’s, I can’t imagine they wouldn’t see it, if they were looking. But if you’re practicing IFR, your head is down in the instruments. IFR student with an instructor could even be wearing a field of view restriction hood.

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