Flight Design CTLS Reportedly Hit Power Lines During Landing Attempt

One of two disabled pilots taking part in an around-the-world flight campaign to raise awareness about differently abled people was fatally injured in an accident while landing at Bang Phra in Thailand.

Mike Lomberg, a native of South Africa, was part of the Handiflight team. The organization posted on Facebook December 30th "we are so sad to inform you of the death of our friend Mike Lomberg due to the accident that happened shortly before he landed at Bang Phra Airport in Thailand. This tragic accident is inexplicable at the moment. The investigation is ongoing."

The newspaper The Hindu relayed a report from The Bangkok post which indicated that when first responders arrived at the accident scene, they found the aircraft engulfed in flames. Several power cables were broken in the approach path to the airport, which authorities said appeared to have been hit by the plane during the landing attempt.

Lomberg and the rest of the Handiflight team departed November 18 from the Geneva, Switzerland airport for their around the world attempt. Lomberg was flying one of two Flight Design CTLS airplanes solo. A third support airplane was accompanying the two disabled pilots. The Aviation Safety Network identifies that airplane as a Piper PA24-250 Comanche HB-OVW being flown by another disabled pilot.

Lomberg was a former test pilot for the South African Air Force with more than 3,800 flight hours, according to the bio posted on the Handiflight website. He suffered a spinal cord injury in 1990 in an automobile accident in which he was a passenger, which left him a paraplegic and ended his test pilot career. But Lomberg continued working in the aerospace industry, and got back into aviation in 2011 when he purchased a Glasair Sportsman that was modified to allow him to fly without the use of his legs.

The Handiflight expedition was to have lasted nine months, with the team traveling through Australia and New Zealand before crossing the Pacific Ocean to South America, North America and then returning to Europe.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: Source report, Facebook, handiflight.com, aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=220332