A glider pilot who died in Co Kilkenny last month made an "upbeat" mobile phone call to his home shortly before the his crash, a report revealed today.
The State's Air Accident Investigation Unit published a preliminary report into the crash that killed businessman Martin Mulhall (78), when he crash-landed in a field near an airstrip at Holdensrath in Kilkenny on bank holiday Monday August 7th.
The report said the weather in the Kilkenny area was good, with unrestricted visibility and little cloud.
"The members of the local flying club were taking full advantage of the good flying conditions on this August bank holiday Monday," said the report by accident investigator Frank Russell.
Mr Mulhall, a very experienced pilot, had earlier that day flown an MS893 Rallye aircraft, the club's towing aircraft, on a routine towing flight.
On his return, he took the controls of a Pilatus B4, a single-seat glider, which had recently been given a temporary Certificate of Airworthiness by the Irish Gliding and Soaring Association. The glider was made in 1976.
The glider was released at 2,000 feet. Mr Mulhall had two-way communications with other club members flying in the area and "his well-being was evidenced by an upbeat mobile phone call to his home", the accident report said.
Two witnesses on the ground then saw the glider go into a sudden nosedive on its approach to the airfield. "The pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed," the report said.
"The investigation is ongoing and a final report will be published in due course."
Mr Mulhall was a co-founder of Kilkenny airport and the local flying club and was a well-known businessman in the city. He is survived by his wife Helen and sons Joe and Eoin.