04-03-2014, 12:10 PM
Sad to read this today. From the daily mail in the UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...plane.html
Teenager is killed after she is hit by model plane
A schoolgirl was killed after being hit by a model plane as she walked with her mother and sister.
Tara Lipscombe was struck on the head by the remote-controlled aircraft with a 5ft wing span and knocked unconscious in what was described as a 'million-to-one' chance.
The 13-year-old grammar school pupil was taken to hospital by air ambulance but died three hours later.
The Acrowot plane, which has a top speed of 50mph, was being flown by a 55-year-old man when it flew out of control.
Tara had been enjoying the Easter holidays on Dartford Heath, Kent, close to her home with a walk with her mother Jane, 46, and ten-year-old sister, Rachelle.
Kent Police said the tragedy was 'a very tragic accident'. A spokesman added: 'The man flying the plane is understandably in shock. He was absolutely devastated and fully co-operative.
'He was not arrested and although we are continuing to investigate the incident, it appears to be a tragic and freak accident. The man is now at home in London.'
According to a police source, the man had been trying to land the plane and was at a loss to explain Tuesday's accident.
Police have confiscated the Acrowot and it will be examined by experts.
Dartford Heath is owned by the local council and is popular with model plane fliers, who were given a designated area in 1997.
'We could all hear the plane but there are always planes about,' said an eye-witness, who asked not to be named.
'Then we saw it coming over the tree and it started to go "pop pop pop" and spluttered.
'It did a 360 degree roll, nose dived and smashed into the girl. Her mum just screamed and ran towards her.'
A model flying enthusiast who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident at 5pm described what happened as a 'million-to- one' chance.
John Lee, 53, said: 'I have been flying model aircraft for 40 years and as soon as I saw the ambulance, I thought "I hope it's not an accident involving a plane".
'I saw a man in his 50s coming towards me and asked him if he knew what was happening and he said: "My aircraft has just hit a little girl".
'He was holding his armpit and saying "I've got a bad heart".
'I thought he going to have a heart attack and tried to calm him down.
'He said a friend had been flying it. Just then another man appeared and he was obviously in shock.' Mr Lee added that the self-assembly-kit plane has been in production for around 15 years and, with a remote control unit, costs around £500.
The propeller can turn at 17,000 revolutions per minute.
Geoff Wallace, of the Bickley Model Flying Club, said:
'Dartford Heath can get very busy in the air, particularly at weekends.
'It is very rare for a plane to go out of control.
'Model fliers have a frequency assigned to them to avoid things like interference from mobile phone masts. This is a tragedy.'
Tara's family, including her father Graham, 50, were said by neighbours to be distraught.
They were being comforted at the home of Mrs Lipscombe's parents in Bexley, Kent.
Throughout yesterday, friends and well-wishers gathered outside the family's semi-detached home in Dartford, where a pile of sympathy cards could be seen in the porch.
Some friends also visited the scene of the accident to lay flowers.
Struggling to hold back tears, one said: 'I can't believe she is dead. It is so wrong.
'She was so lovely and gorgeous and popular. I can't think about it. I will always remember her no matter what.'
A neighbour said: 'It is just too terrible to talk about. She has been snatched from us and her family. They are a lovely family and do not deserve this, nobody does. It is just such a shock.'
A spokesman for the North Kent coroner said a post-mortem examination will be held.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z2ux4R7kbR
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...plane.html
Teenager is killed after she is hit by model plane
A schoolgirl was killed after being hit by a model plane as she walked with her mother and sister.
Tara Lipscombe was struck on the head by the remote-controlled aircraft with a 5ft wing span and knocked unconscious in what was described as a 'million-to-one' chance.
The 13-year-old grammar school pupil was taken to hospital by air ambulance but died three hours later.
The Acrowot plane, which has a top speed of 50mph, was being flown by a 55-year-old man when it flew out of control.
Tara had been enjoying the Easter holidays on Dartford Heath, Kent, close to her home with a walk with her mother Jane, 46, and ten-year-old sister, Rachelle.
Kent Police said the tragedy was 'a very tragic accident'. A spokesman added: 'The man flying the plane is understandably in shock. He was absolutely devastated and fully co-operative.
'He was not arrested and although we are continuing to investigate the incident, it appears to be a tragic and freak accident. The man is now at home in London.'
According to a police source, the man had been trying to land the plane and was at a loss to explain Tuesday's accident.
Police have confiscated the Acrowot and it will be examined by experts.
Dartford Heath is owned by the local council and is popular with model plane fliers, who were given a designated area in 1997.
'We could all hear the plane but there are always planes about,' said an eye-witness, who asked not to be named.
'Then we saw it coming over the tree and it started to go "pop pop pop" and spluttered.
'It did a 360 degree roll, nose dived and smashed into the girl. Her mum just screamed and ran towards her.'
A model flying enthusiast who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident at 5pm described what happened as a 'million-to- one' chance.
John Lee, 53, said: 'I have been flying model aircraft for 40 years and as soon as I saw the ambulance, I thought "I hope it's not an accident involving a plane".
'I saw a man in his 50s coming towards me and asked him if he knew what was happening and he said: "My aircraft has just hit a little girl".
'He was holding his armpit and saying "I've got a bad heart".
'I thought he going to have a heart attack and tried to calm him down.
'He said a friend had been flying it. Just then another man appeared and he was obviously in shock.' Mr Lee added that the self-assembly-kit plane has been in production for around 15 years and, with a remote control unit, costs around £500.
The propeller can turn at 17,000 revolutions per minute.
Geoff Wallace, of the Bickley Model Flying Club, said:
'Dartford Heath can get very busy in the air, particularly at weekends.
'It is very rare for a plane to go out of control.
'Model fliers have a frequency assigned to them to avoid things like interference from mobile phone masts. This is a tragedy.'
Tara's family, including her father Graham, 50, were said by neighbours to be distraught.
They were being comforted at the home of Mrs Lipscombe's parents in Bexley, Kent.
Throughout yesterday, friends and well-wishers gathered outside the family's semi-detached home in Dartford, where a pile of sympathy cards could be seen in the porch.
Some friends also visited the scene of the accident to lay flowers.
Struggling to hold back tears, one said: 'I can't believe she is dead. It is so wrong.
'She was so lovely and gorgeous and popular. I can't think about it. I will always remember her no matter what.'
A neighbour said: 'It is just too terrible to talk about. She has been snatched from us and her family. They are a lovely family and do not deserve this, nobody does. It is just such a shock.'
A spokesman for the North Kent coroner said a post-mortem examination will be held.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z2ux4R7kbR
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