Airport Owner Awaits Fate Over Tragic Skydiving Deaths
The owner of a rural airport is poised to learn his legal fate this Friday concerning the horrific deaths of two skydivers who fell approximately 100 metres after becoming entangled on an aircraft during a mid-air accident. The tragic incident, which occurred on June 27, 2021, at Goulburn Airport in southern New South Wales, claimed the lives of experienced instructor Stephen Hoare, aged 37, and his tandem passenger Alex Welling, aged 32.
Court Finds Serious Safety Breaches
In March, both the Goulburn Flight Training Centre and its sole director, Attilio Giovanni Ferrara—also known as John Ferrara—were found guilty of serious workplace safety breaches in the NSW District Court. Judge Andrew Scotting, who presided over the case, is scheduled to hand down the sentence in Sydney. The court heard during a lengthy trial that a fabricated metal step, recently installed on the Cessna 182 aircraft to assist skydivers with launching, had not been inspected or approved by a qualified engineer.
Judge Scotting remarked that the step presented an obvious and dangerous snag hazard, directly contributing to the fatal accident. Additionally, the company failed to ensure that mandatory 'buddy checks' were conducted before every flight. Such checks could have identified a loose strap on Mr Welling's harness, potentially preventing the tragedy.
Horrific Mid-Air Incident Captured on Video
A short GoPro video, recorded by a third solo skydiver during the flight, captured the moments leading up to the accident. The footage showed Mr Welling smiling as he moved toward the open door of the plane while attached to Mr Hoare. The pair were filmed sitting on the edge of the aircraft for several seconds before attempting to launch. The vision then revealed a black strap becoming caught on the protruding step, violently flinging both men upside-down.
In a desperate attempt to save them, the pilot executed several manoeuvres, including flying low over the airport while ground staff stood on top of a four-wheel drive vehicle trying to grab the suspended skydivers. Tragically, Mr Hoare and Mr Welling fell when the plane returned to a higher altitude, resulting in their deaths.
Families Shattered by Loss
Ferrara issued what he described as a 'sincere and unqualified' apology during an earlier court hearing. Mr Hoare's father, Frank, expressed that he holds no animosity toward Ferrara or the pilot, who also installed the unapproved step, acknowledging that there was no malicious intent. However, he emphasized that the Hoare family's lives have been utterly shattered by the accident.
'He was not just a name or statistic; he was our son and our joy,' Mr Hoare stated. 'Every day since his death has been filled with a silence that should not exist and a grief that does not lessen with time.' The family has called for a coronial inquiry to investigate the incident thoroughly and help prevent similar accidents in the future, highlighting ongoing concerns about aviation safety protocols.
This case underscores critical issues in workplace safety within the aviation and adventure sports industries, as the community awaits the court's final decision on sentencing.
