Richard W. Scott

[Wayne G. O'Shea]

It is with DEEP sadness that I must report the tragic loss of one of our
own, a great friend of mine as well as many others inside and outside the
aviation community. This was a man that was highly involved in the
regeneration of aviation through the Young Eagles program, as well as any
other avenue to promote recreational aviation in general.

I offer details so there are no rumours or untruths to disrupt his family in
the future, any further of course than they're already affected.

Richard W. Scott was killed Tuesday Sept 24, 2002 at approximately 9:50am
when his Lotus float equipped Chinook Plus Ultralight impacted the north
west shoreline of Frying Pan Island in the "San Souci" area of Georgian Bay,
Ontario. (directly West of Parry Sound). Rick was on his way to a job site
one island over from the accident site and didn't arrive as anticipated.
This was a trip that Rick has made hundreds of times over the years for his
Electrical Contracting business, to job sites throughout the 30,000 Island
region, but unfortunately this one ended in tragedy on a very gusty day. His
ELT signal was picked up by satellite at 9:55, commercial airline at 10:30,
a second ping off the satellite at 11:30 and off went the SAR Labrador which
located him shortly after lunch. Unfortunately Rick had been thrown though
the windshield of his airplane upon the initial impact with a tree and the
rock shoreline in about a 15* left wing low attitude. He was killed
instantly on impact from multiple injuries sustained from the ejection and
the impact with the rocky shoreline.

I personally spent all day Wednesday on the crash scene in an attempt to
piece together the non-witnessed mishap, to try and determine the events
that lead to this tragic event, to secure his personal belongings for his
wife Janice and their three children and to help the OPP marine unit with
the investigation. Transport Canada was not interested in attending the site
as it was "just an ultralight". Rick was a very good friend to many of us
and I owed him and his family more than that, if for nothing else than to
put proper closure to this tragedy. Rick was a HIGHLY experience pilot and
performed meticulous maintenance on his aircraft. There were absolutely no
signs of structural failure, fuel starvation, nor engine failure as there
was propellor impact damage in the direction of rotation and the engine
turned freely. All controls are still intact and functioning as well as can
be expected post impact. The best we could piece together, taking into
account the various islands and choices of landing areas of highest shelter
from the wind, is that for some reason Rick aborted his landing and was in a
go around to the left. Once he got the right wing up into the turn the wind,
that was reported to be possibly 30K + in the area, got a hold of the
aircraft tossing him downwind, arresting all lift and taking him into the
shoreline of Frying Pan Island where he impacted the shoreline and a large
cedar tree simultaneously.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday September the 27th, 2002 at the
Nicolls funeral home in Midland, Ontario (Midland Avenue) with visitation
from 10am to 2pm. Funeral immediately following, at the funeral home, and
then burial at the St. Ann's Church cemetery in Penetanguishene. Following
the burial there will be a catered reception at the Midland/Huronia Airport
terminal building.

I would hope that everyone who knew Rick or that believes in his dreams of
flight, Young Eagles, good friends and family, can attend his service.

Sincerely,
Wayne G. O'Shea
President
Midland Huronia RAA / COPA Flight 73






-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------