Victorian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association president Rob
van der Klooster

http://www.standard.net.au/story/1748177/victims-friend-challenges-fatal-paragliding-accident-finding/?cs=73

A VICTOR Harbor paraglider has questioned an investigation finding
into the deaths of two paragliders off Nirranda in May.

Experienced pilot Rob Lithgow, 52, of Torquay, and passenger Bruce Ottoway, 66,
of Victor Harbor, were killed in a tragic tandem paragliding accident on May 19.

Mr Lithgow’s body was found tangled in ropes in the ocean the next day, but Mr
Ottoway’s body was never recovered.

Yesterday paraglider David Joy called on Victorian Hang Gliding and Paragliding
Association president Rob van der Klooster to withdraw his findings.

Mr. van der Klooster told The Standard on August 20: “I think he (Mr. Lithgow)
just misjudged it and paid very dearly.

“He literally had thousands of hours of flying experience and certainly many
hundreds of hours tandem paragliding and hang gliding.”

“He would have had the option to land on top of the cliffs if he was high
enough, but he dropped below the cliffs.”

Mr. van der Klooster is preparing a report for the sport’s governing body and
will present it if a coroner’s inquest is called.

Mr. Joy is a friend of Mr Lithgow and flew with him in Victoria, Tasmania, South
Australia and Northern Territory.

“I did the filming for him when he flew the coastline from Melbourne to
Adelaide. He is the only pilot to have achieved this total distance. I briefly
knew Bruce Ottoway and introduced him to paragliding,” he said.

“My issue is that I strongly challenge the reported findings of Rob van der
Klooster that the cause of the accident was a mistake and therefore pilot error.