Crash pilot’s last phone call before tragedy revealed
The preliminary accident report by the Air Accident Investigation Unit into death of pilot and flight instructor Martin Mulhall, 78, said that his craft plunged into a sudden nose dive before it hit the ground.
Mr Mulhall’s 30-year-old glider went out of control on August 7 at Kilkenny Airfield at 5.35pm in near perfect flying conditions, according to the air crash investigator’s report.
“The weather in the Kilkenny area was good, unrestricted visibility and little cloud. Some pilots reported strong thermal activity in the vicinity of the airfield,” the report said.
“The members of the local flying club were taking full advantage of the good flying conditions on the August Bank Holiday Monday.”
The initial report, released yesterday, was not able to give any indication as to the cause of the crash but said that Mr Mulhall was in constant contact with other members of the club and called home after he was released from the towing plane at 2,000 feet.
“[Mr Mulhall] had two-way communications with other airborne members of the club in the Kilkenny area and his well-being was evidenced by an upbeat phone call to his home,” the report said.
Two club members tracked his journey from land and watched in horror as his glider headed towards the ground as it approached the runway.
The crash occurred moments later when club members began a frantic search for Mr Mulhall as they waited for emergency services to arrive.
A courtesy flyover was arranged to salute Mr Mulhall at his burial.
