In a story of great interest to both helicopter and fixed-wing pilots, a Calgary-based pilot was recently found guilty of criminal negligence causing death, four counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and dangerous operation of an aircraft.  Read the news report here.

The pilot, 42-tear old Mark Tayfel, was flying a Piper Navajo owned by Keystone Air when it crashed on a Winnipeg street in June 2002.  The pilot and six passengers were injured ( one, Chester Jones, died a few weeks later) when both engines cut out due to lack of fuel shortly after missing an attempted landing at YWG.

In a 69-page ruling, Justice Holly Beard concluded that Tayfel had no reasonable excuse for running out of fuel.

The  defence maintained that Tayfel was pressured into flying despite the fact that he'd raised concerns with the chief pilot that the aircraft wasn't equipped with a mandatory auto-pilot. The device likely would have helped Tayfel make a safe landing in Winnipeg. During cross-examination, Tayfel admitted he didn't push the issue.