Two men in their 60s have walked away from the gyrocopter they were in after it lost power and crashed into Tauranga Harbour today.
The light aircraft plunged 500feet into shallow water about 200metres off the end of the Tauranga runway at about 1.30pm.
The gyrocopter in the Tauranga Harbour.
A gyrocopter crashed into the Tauranga Harbour today.
A 65-year-old Gate Pa man was taken to Tauranga Hospital while the other passenger, a man in his 60s, was assessed by St John Ambulance at the scene.
St John Ambulance Mount Maunganui team leader Gary Bishell says the 65-year-old man was taken to hospital with minor back injuries by Te Puke paramedics who were in the area at the time.
A Tauranga Hospital spokesperson says the man is currently being assessed by ED but is in a stable condition.
Police say the gyrocopter lost power at about 500ft shortly after take-off and landed in the harbour.
Tauranga and Mount Maunganui firefighters were called to the scene at 1.30pm.
On arrival the men were found to be out of the gyrocopter and had made their way back to Tauranga airport.
The airport crash crew are at the scene and all flying has been suspended.
The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating.
Did you see the crash? Do you have information or photos of the plunge? Email newsroom@thesun.co.nz or phone 0800 SUNLIVE.
24 comments
Gyrocopter
Posted on 24-10-2012 14:17 | By sd68
Saw it take off from 34 then circle back. Might have been trying make the runway but probably a good thing he came down in the water. Made a big splash. The tower spotted something was wrong before he went down.
Deathtraps
Posted on 24-10-2012 14:44 | By pomfart
It was only a matter of time before those noisy pests took a dive. Same with those stupid annoying warbirds.
gyrocopter
Posted on 24-10-2012 15:00 | By sharon69nz
two very lucky men.
Agree with pomfart
Posted on 24-10-2012 15:13 | By SML
totally sick of the gyrocopters and warbirds flying willy-nilly over dense suburban housing at Papamoa, often well below the allowable height restriction, and often doing aerobatics, none of which is allowed under civil aviation rules/regulations. It's only a matter of time before innocent people are killed in their homes, but try and get answers from the appropriate authorities is like pushing water uphill with a broom. It often sounds like a war zone out here (near Partons Road) with planes flying neither at sea nor over farmland but over heavily-populated suburban streets, often as late as midnight. It's a noisy nightmare, an accident just waiting to happen, and no-one's doing a damn thing about it.
dickens
Posted on 24-10-2012 15:16 | By viceroy
Pomfart Get a life
Your a worry
Posted on 24-10-2012 16:25 | By Pottzz
Geez Pomfart, Judging by all the negative comments you leave on most posts I have viewed, you need to get out more.. In fact a trip to the doctor might be in order because it looks like that chip on your shoulder has grown into a four by two.
Pomfart
Posted on 24-10-2012 17:01 | By gadstuff
Just another whinging pom who should be sent home as deck cargo on a submarine.
Judgements?
Posted on 24-10-2012 17:34 | By Garret
I think that "Deathtraps" comment is silly and judgemental. Most forms of motorised travel have an element of danger - there are far more accidents and deaths because of cars and motorbikes, than with "noisy pests". Flying is a sport and a pastime that so many love and enjoy regularly. Those warbirds are our heritage (Remember - lest we forget?) and we are privileged to have them here in Tauranga. I personally love flying, have been in the gyrocopter and warbirds, and will continue to enjoy the thrill of every flight.
negative comments
Posted on 24-10-2012 19:21 | By Glen Clova
Pomfart get a life all your comments in here are negative,you must live a miserable life.
@ Everybody
Posted on 24-10-2012 20:37 | By king
Pomfart is nothing but a troll, he comes on here and make negative comments just to get a reaction. The more you react, the more enjoyment he gets.
Moderated ?
Posted on 24-10-2012 21:19 | By Fonzie
I wonder if the comments on here are really moderated some of them are just a waste of space
observer
Posted on 25-10-2012 07:11 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
clearly these ppl complaining about aircraft noise - do not have a life. Does it disturb your precious game of patience? The airport was here first! Go gyrocopters, warbirds and glider tugs and all manner of exciting aerial craft.
SML's ignorance
Posted on 25-10-2012 10:05 | By South
of what is and isn't allowed, by whom and where, when and how under aviation rules is duly noted. Not all restrictions are created equal.
It's not the noise, it's the breaking of Civil Aviation rules
Posted on 25-10-2012 10:12 | By SML
and Civial aviation rules are there for a reason! There are minimum heights to fly at. There are restrictions on where to fly - ie. not over populated areas, except for takeoff and landing, and there are restrictions on areas to be used for practising acrobatics, again these should not be over populated areas. I'm sorry if it offends some people's sense of "fun and freedom", but what is the point of having "minimum safety rules, if they are being constantly flouted?? I couldn't give a darn about your little hate session with the Pom - I do care about the flouting off Civil Aviation rules over my home.
POMFART and SML
Posted on 25-10-2012 10:59 | By 172pilot
These aircraft do not fly around willy nilly. Tauranga is controled airspace. Every thing an aircraft does is recorded and allowed by the controlers. As for flying over papamoa you are aloud to. The rules say not below 1000' over built up area. 500' above no built up area. So over the coast is where they do aero's mostly 3-4000' over the papamoa paddocks forced landings are learnt. TO HELP SAVE LIVES LIKE YESTERDAY. So how about you learn you aviation law then make comments!!! Or JUST MOVE the airport was hear a long time before you!!!
At SML and Pomfart
Posted on 25-10-2012 12:44 | By Lindstrim
SML which CAR do you speak of? Flying over built up terrain is common practice and can be done down to an altitude of 1000ft above a built up area. With regard to Parton Rd being a hub of activity you have to look around you and notice that there is the sports ground near you and that is a very recognizable place from the air hence why it is a reporting point for the pilots and the controllers. And if you even think Papamoa is densely populated you would have hated to live in Hong Kong before the new airport was built as they flew 747 etc right between the apartment building!!! Pomfart seeing as you are from the other side of the world how did you get here by car? Boat? Walked? You have to remember that aviation is one of the most if not the most safest way to travel anywhere. Do you say the same about every car crash that happens?
Sticks and stones
Posted on 25-10-2012 14:40 | By pomfart
Pottzz - it should be "you're". Go to school. Garret - of course there are more crashes involving cars. Duh. Gadstuff - not a Pom, nor a racist Kiwi. Moron. Observer - the airport was here before what? Human inhabitation? What a stupid comment. I do have a very nice life thank you but it is disturbed on a regular basis by ignorant flying dicks who think they are in a war movie. Keep it coming. I love it.
Agree with Fonzie
Posted on 25-10-2012 15:47 | By pomfart
Some comments make no ligitimate point but are just an excuse to insult, often involving racist slur. I formed Pomfart as a result of racist comments in the first place and it is very interesting how much racism it generates. As insults seem to be allowed, my final comment on this topic is that I hope none of you pilots ever fly commercially as few of you seem able to spell or form sentences. It would therefore worry me if my life was in such dumb hands.
Oh and to Observer and fellow warbirds
Posted on 25-10-2012 16:25 | By pomfart
It's ironic that you say "the airport was here first" given it is on land confiscated from Moari. Give it back I say.
observer
Posted on 26-10-2012 07:43 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
pomfart - yeap right - so it they can grow gorse with a light spinkle of cannabis
@ Lindstrim, South, Observer and others
Posted on 26-10-2012 11:04 | By SML
You assume I don't know what I'm talking about and have no aviation experience - wrong (and I have flown in and out of HK, to the old and new airports, but we're discussing what is happening HERE, at Papamoa....). Apart from my own experience, I have confirmed this with authorities. I know flying lower than 500 in my particular area is not allowed. I know doing "stop-starts" in my area (especially directly above my home) is not allowed. I know where aerobatics are allowed, where the "recognition points" (such as the sports ground are. But almost daily the "safety" rules are being broken. And that is NOT safe.
Observer
Posted on 26-10-2012 14:50 | By pomfart
Good to see your racism is not restricted to Poms. It must be all those hours you've spent imagining shooting down Germans and Japs in your little warbird. Sad. And judging my your inability to spell or form sentences it must be you who's been on the grass.
@SML
Posted on 26-10-2012 18:40 | By phildan89
Ok SML settle down. Just so everyone knows what the story is above their heads in the Papamoa area, there is an arrival for light aircraft out there called the Papamoa one arrival, in which an aircraft comes in to the sportsground via the coast maintaining 1500ft. The departure mirrors this, expect it is at 1000ft so there aren't any head on conflicts (almost zero risk of a mid-air collision). There are four aerobatic areas in the Tauranga area (1) Papamoa between Parton road and Te Puke (over the farmland) or seawards of the coast, depending on traffic at the time. (2) Overhead the field (3) Seawards of the Mount main beach (4) Matakana Island The standard clearance is between 3000 and 4000ft, which gives plenty of altitude to recover (given the minimum height allowed over those areas is 500ft). All the pilots here know that aerobatics over built up areas are not allowed, and I personally haven't seen any aeros over built up areas here. If you have though, why not complain to the CAA-after all, they have the rule in place for a reason! Otherwise, would you mind listing specific occurrences in which these rules have been broken? Anyways getting off on a tangent-good to see these guys are ok-the pilot of this particular gyro is one of the friendliest guys on the field!
@ phildan89
Posted on 26-10-2012 22:43 | By SML
Thank you for your response - know who you are and am a friend of a friend/colleague of yours. Draw a line from the Sports Rooms to the new College, and an isosceles triangle from that towards the beach and that would give the approximate position of my home, which is assuredly not in any of the four areas you gave. Yet our mutual friend has seen what I have already described, sitting on a sight line to the Tga airport. And I have long since given up trying to make a complaint to CAA - it's like trying to milk a bull, impossible. I no longer have the energy for itI'll get him to contact you.
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