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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Alison Rennie

Findings of Clutha crash inquiry blame pilot error

The inquiry into the Clutha helicopter has blamed the pilot for the deaths of 10 people.

Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull said the accident was caused by pilot David Traill’s failure to ensure at least one of the fuel transfer pump switches was on.

He concluded that the circumstances of the accident are so unusual that it is improbable they will be repeated.

Helicopter pilot David Traill (PDE)

The report reads: "By not carrying out the actions set out in the Pilot’s Checklist, Captain Traill consciously took a risk in proceeding on the basis that the low fuel warnings were in some way erroneous (when they were not). That decision had fatal consequences."

The helicopter hanging above the pub during the recovery mission (Paisley Daily Express)

Ten people, including David, from Lochwinnoch, died when the police helicopter crashed into the roof of The Clutha pub in Glasgow on November 29, 2013.

Pub customers Gary Arthur, from Paisley, Colin Gibson, from Neilston, Mark O’Prey, John McGarrigle, Robert Jenkins, Samuel McGhee and Joe Cusker died, while pilot David Traill, 51, and crew Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis were also killed.

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