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2009/02/16

Croatian Cessna Crashes into Velebit Mountain


Click here for full size photo on Airliners.net
Boran Pivcic - CroSpotterTeam

What: Cessna T303 owned by Josip Crncevic en route from Zagreb to Zadar.
Where: missing on Velebit Mountain
When: Feb 7 3:45 pm
Who: carrying pilot and 3 crew members: the pilot and 3 crew members from Zagreb flying club "Ban," were: Gerd Govejsek, 63, Walter Aleksandar, 49, Miljenko Bartolic, 61, and Zvonko Kelek, 68.
Why: There is very little factual information available, but thecrash is being investigated by Investigator Dinko Vodanovic. It is speculated that the altitude meter or the wings froze.

It took 4 days of searching before the wreckage was located on the north side of the mountain at 11am at an altitude of 1,200 metres on Vagan peak. The scene of the crash is subject to harsh weather conditions.

The owner Josip Crncevichas gone public saying (paraphrased) "I am convinced that the army who carries out military aircraft practice near Zadar is involved. Zagreb’s flight control allegedly allowed the aircraft to fly via a prohibited route. The flight control forced my colleagues to reduce their altitude from eight to six thousand feet."

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