Pilot of ultralight dies in crash

8/26

The crash of an ultralight aircraft on Ambergris Caye has claimed the life of a tourist. According to San Pedro Police, around three thirty this afternoon, South African Martin David Walker and an American woman were taking off from the San Pedro runway in their tiny recreational plane when a squall suddenly blew in. It is believed that Walker lost control of the aircraft in the strong winds and crashed onto the tarmac near the hangar area of the airstrip. News 5 was told that Walker sustained serious head injuries while his passenger suffered broken bones. The critically injured man was rushed to Belize City via Wings of Hope, but witnesses at the municipal airstrip tell News 5 that within minutes of arrival, Walker was pronounced dead. We understand Walker was a guest of Victoria House and had brought his ultralight with him for use around the island. In Belize, as in most of the world, ultralights are not subject to the strict official regulations that govern the operation of larger, sturdier and more powerful airplanes.

Wow, that's terrible. As an ultralight builder and flight instructor, I'd like to know more about this. Does anyone know exactly what kind of plane it was?

Is this one in the same as mentioned in the Micrlite topic earlier about South Africans flying them?

Yes, Martin was part of the South African team.

I remember that squall....very freaky indeed. It blew and rained hard for about 5 minutes and yet there was barely a cloud in the sky....everything all around was blue.

Very sad news indeed.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1579909,00.html


http://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=vn20040828112345994C886573&sf=

Thanks!

Holy crap!!! Me and Pedro1 spoke to him the Sunday afternoon just before that! He said they were flying around the world or something like that and that they had the current distance record for ultralight flying. What a world! Is this the same guy? Has to be.....

just my point to living the dream, for as long as you can . and as much as you can. and do it to the max .. because life is too fragile and we are meer mortals...

Amen, captjeff. RIP