Trike down in China...pilot dead.

[Chad]

First link is the website, second is a news report:

http://www.genesys.co.za/FreedomFlight/logs.asp?type=diar

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1534447,00.html

[Screw]

Srcew-In

That is very sad and tragic. I suppose the airport figured the weather was better over the water?

Screw-Out

[Chad]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-05/29/content_1497531.htm

"Two planes took off from the southern city of Guilin in Friday morning and were headed to Changsha. Bad weather forced the pilotsto divert to Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, butone plane crashed into Dongting Lake in neighboring Hunan Provincebefore it arrived."

[Chad]

What a way to go:

"The wreckage of the microlight is in a large deep river with fast flowing silted water which makes it near impossible to find and verify what went wrong. I write, verify, because he called on the radio twice and said what was wrong. At the time we were at 11000ft. He said that he had lost his wing and was falling. Those messages have been haunting me."

In "Latest Updates" section.
http://www.safreedomflight.com/

I think the remaining pilot wants to continue on. I would like him to finish the journey if able.

[Chad]

A second pilot (Martin) linked up with Ricky in the US to continue the around the world flight (started in South Africa). Had a fatal crash in Belize.

Newspaper article @ http://www.sanpedrosun.net/04-313.html
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From: http://www.safreedomflight.com/
Update on Belize

Firstly apologies if messages have not been forthcoming but as you can imagine it has been difficult to gather my thoughts.

There have been many requests for information on Martins accident. At the time of the accident I was at the hotel working on the computer and was unaware that Martin was going flying so I have spent the last few days gathering information and have put together this explanation based on the facts from eye witnesses and those who assisted immediately at the scene. Please understand that it is difficult for Martins family and all of us to deal with such reports and we respectfully request limiting further queries.

Martin was taking a passenger for a flight around the islands to show how beautiful it is in the area. He took off in what seemed to be reasonable conditions and immediately after take off a squall blew across the runway magnifying the turbulence from the windward side trees and buildings which caused the microlight to drop onto the runway. Judging by the extensive damage to every component of the trike it impacted the ground hard.

Martin and the passenger were attended to immediately by the doctors at a clinic across the road from the runway and were quickly airlifted to a trauma unit on the mainland.

The passenger sustained several injuries from which the doctors believe and we hope she will be able to fully recover.

Martins accident was a huge shock to us all and difficult to comprehend. We have flown a long distance through America and Mexico and gradually we were getting our flying routines together. He had reached a point where he had a full grasp of the challenge of what we were dealing with and he was enjoying it tremendously. This showed when he expressed with great enthusiasm about the flying, scenery and most of all the incredible people and friends we had made along the journey. There were times when we met people and one could hear how he got engrossed in telling stories about Africa and our amazing adventure in such detail to try and get them to also enjoy our experiences. I really appreciated that he had caught onto this aspect of our journey because this was the essence of what Alan and I had been trying to do. Our mission was to get as many people as possible to enjoy and benefit in some form or other from this expedition and there was Martin unknowingly doing the same.

His accident has been a huge loss to his family and all of us friends but please remember how enthusiastic, filled with excitement and the joy he has had throughout this journey.

To all the people who tried their best at the accident and have since been assisting with arrangements, from Martins family and friends, we appreciate your efforts and say a heartfelt thank you for all you have done.

Ricky
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