Pubdate: Thu, 23 Mar 2006
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2006 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Janine Bennetts
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

PILOT IN CRASH HAD SMOKED CANNABIS

A pilot killed when his glider hit a mountain near Omarama had smoked
cannabis before taking off, air accident investigators say.

Gregory John Brosnan, 44, of Hawea Flat, near Wanaka, died instantly
when the single-seater glider he was flying crashed into a ridge on
the Omarama Saddle, about 20km from Omarama township, on January 12
last year.

A post-mortem toxicology report showed a level of tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) in Brosnan's blood that would be consistent with Brosnan having
smoked the equivalent of a single cannabis cigarette within about
three hours of his death.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) report said the nature of the
terrain would have made it difficult for Brosnan to judge the height
of the ridge top, which, combined with the THC, may have resulted in
his making an error of judgment.

It concluded the crash resulted from a combination of a sudden change
in flying conditions and the effects of cannabis in Brosnan's
bloodstream.

Brosnan was an experienced pilot, having logged more than 240 flying
hours.

Friends said gliding was his greatest passion and some of his last
words over the radio were: "Man, doesn't (Mount) Cook look awesome?"

Derek Bussell, who instructed Brosnan and co-owned a glider with him,
said he was not aware that Brosnan smoked cannabis.

"I wouldn't have known whether he smoked pot or not. He never smoked
pot in my presence," Bussell said. "Broz was an outdoors, outgoing
sort of a chap."

A family friend, who did not want to be named, said friends and family
had thought Brosnan had given up smoking some time before the crash
and were disappointed that it had come up in the investigation.

CAA communications manager Bill Sommer said Brosnan's case was rare,
and drugs and alcohol were not a major safety concern for the authority.

He said that while there were rules against drugs and alcohol in civil
aviation law, the authority did not regularly test private pilots. "We
don't believe this is a widespread problem and it's very rare that
such things happen."

Sommer said commercial operators tested their pilots, but private
pilots had to make their own judgment call.

"It's always up to the individual. The responsibility and safety is
clearly in the hands of the operator. Everyone knows that everyone's
responsible for safety, not just the director of Civil Aviation," he
said.

Bussell said Brosnan was greatly missed in Otago gliding
circles.

"I think everyone misses him just purely on a personal level. He was a
joy to have around and we don't have him around any more," Bussell
said. 
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