A significant wind shift was the main cause of the July 2007 plane crash in Connemara which killed two people, a report by the Air Accident Investigation Authority concluded this week.
The crash at Aerphort na Minna, Indreabhán, claimed the lives of pilot Matt Masterson (59 ) and Paul McNamee (57 ) an accountant from Loughrea who was a passenger in the Cessna Caravan aircraft.
An AAIU final report published this week found that the weather conditions at Indreabhán had changed between the pilot’s take off for Inis Meain and the return flight later the same day, of which the pilot seemed to be unaware. Wind conditions caused the aircraft to veer to the left, and the pilot attempted to abort the landing but was unable to do so. The plane hit a mound in a field beside the airport before cartwheeling and landing on its front some distance away.
The flight had been organised to demonstrate the aircraft’s capabilities to a group of potential buyers who were associated with plans to develop an airport in Clifden. The seven other passengers on board were seriously injured in the crash, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The aircraft was certified airworthy at the time of the crash, and no technical faults were found.
Witnesses reported that the pilot was unhappy with weather conditions on the day of the crash. The fact that the pilot was unaware of a change in wind direction and under stress as this was a demonstration flight, and that the aircraft was overloaded, were judged to be contributory factors in the crash.
