Stewart Kissell

Colorado soaring pilot Stewart Kissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado. A search involving 11 CAP aircraft and other local pilots
was started at 7am Saturday morning after he failed to return from the
Friday flight. The wreckage was spotted about 7:30pm Saturday and
searchers reached the rugged, remote site about three hours later.

Stewart was son of Emil Kissell, a long time California soaring
pilot. He was an occasional contributor to RAS and frequently
corresponded with me on SSA, soaring safety, and other flight topics
and was moderator of the high country Chaffee (County) Soaring Yahoo
Group.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

On Oct 28, 9:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
Colorado soaring pilot Stewart Kissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado. A search involving 11 CAP aircraft and other local pilots
was started at 7am Saturday morning after he failed to return from the
Friday flight. The wreckage was spotted about 7:30pm Saturday and
searchers reached the rugged, remote site about three hours later.

Stewart was son of Emil Kissell, a long time California soaring
pilot. He was an occasional contributor to RAS and frequently
corresponded with me on SSA, soaring safety, and other flight topics
and was moderator of the high country Chaffee (County) Soaring Yahoo
Group.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

Sorry for the error, but the spelling is Kissel

On Oct 28, 8:32 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Oct 28, 9:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:

Colorado soaring pilot Stewart Kissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado. A search involving 11 CAP aircraft and other local pilots
was started at 7am Saturday morning after he failed to return from the
Friday flight. The wreckage was spotted about 7:30pm Saturday and
searchers reached the rugged, remote site about three hours later.

Stewart was son of Emil Kissell, a long time California soaring
pilot. He was an occasional contributor to RAS and frequently
corresponded with me on SSA, soaring safety, and other flight topics
and was moderator of the high country Chaffee (County) Soaring Yahoo
Group.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

Sorry for the error, but the spelling is Kissel

This really Sucks.

Condolences to family and friends of Stewart.
He and I would exchange emails about Ventus flying/tuning when I was
flying mine.

A sad loss indeed.

Regards

Al

On Oct 28, 8:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
Colorado soaring pilot Stewart Kissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado.

Very sad news indeed. Stewart's father, Emil, was a mentor to me in
BASA (Bay Area Soaring Associates, in the San Francisco Bay Area) when
I returned to soaring in 1994 after a 15 year gap. I also corresponded
with Stewart via some of his RAS postings. Both father and son were
dedicated to the sport and contributed greatly. My condolences to all
of the family.

Martin

On Oct 28, 9:32 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Oct 28, 9:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:

Colorado soaring pilot Stewart Kissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado. A search involving 11 CAP aircraft and other local pilots
was started at 7am Saturday morning after he failed to return from the
Friday flight. The wreckage was spotted about 7:30pm Saturday and
searchers reached the rugged, remote site about three hours later.

Stewart was son of Emil Kissell, a long time California soaring
pilot. He was an occasional contributor to RAS and frequently
corresponded with me on SSA, soaring safety, and other flight topics
and was moderator of the high country Chaffee (County) Soaring Yahoo
Group.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

Sorry for the error, but the spelling is Kissel

Stu's parents and brother Steven were notified last night. Will
contact Steven Kissel to get and post funeral arrangments as they firm
up. My understanding is that Steven plans to bring parents to
Colorado within the next day or two. Will confirm with Steven this
evening..
Bela

On Oct 28, 11:41 am, wrote:
On Oct 28, 8:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:

Colorado soaring pilot Stewart Kissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado.

Very sad news indeed. Stewart's father, Emil, was a mentor to me in
BASA (Bay Area Soaring Associates, in the San Francisco Bay Area) when
I returned to soaring in 1994 after a 15 year gap. I also corresponded
with Stewart via some of his RAS postings. Both father and son were
dedicated to the sport and contributed greatly. My condolences to all
of the family.

Martin

What a terrible news!
Stu was a very active member of this newsgroup. A search on his name
returned over 1000 hits.
One more big loss to soaring this year. I am speachless.

Ramy

Hello,

I'm a reporter for the Vail Daily writing a story about Stewart
Kissel. I would like to briefly interview some of you about what kind
of person Stewart was. I think the story would be a nice way of
helping remember him for locals in the Vail area. I'm also looking for
photos of Stewart.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/200...06/0/FRONTPAGE

Regards,

Steve Lynn
Vail Daily reporter
Public safety, Minturn, skiing
Direct line, newsroom: (970) 748-2931
Cell phone: (785) 840-5777

www.vaildaily.com

I never met or spoke with Stewart Kissel. He did, however, correspond
with me on occasion, most recently during the height of the agitated
discussion about the Soaring Society of America's financial scandal
one year ago. Out of the blue, Stu emailed to thank me for my efforts
to present an objective, reasoned approach in my postings and to ask
what he could do to help. I was grateful for all who did something
similar but I particularly remember Stu--and saved his thoughtful
notes--because he seemed to represent what I hoped were the vast
majority of SSA members: dedicated, supportive, knowledgable,
concerned, upset about the mess we found ourselves in but careful to
get the facts straight before making accusations or grand statements,
and, finally, willing to help. I'm sorry I never had the opportunity
to chat with him in person.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA

On Oct 28, 7:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:
Colorado soaring pilotStewartKissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado. A search involving 11 CAP aircraft and other local pilots
was started at 7am Saturday morning after he failed to return from the
Friday flight. The wreckage was spotted about 7:30pm Saturday and
searchers reached the rugged, remote site about three hours later.

Stewartwas son of Emil Kissell, a long time California soaring
pilot. He was an occasional contributor to RAS and frequently
corresponded with me on SSA, soaring safety, and other flight topics
and was moderator of the high country Chaffee (County) Soaring Yahoo
Group.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

Are there any conclusions or substantial speculations of what may have
happened?
I understand a flight recorder was on board. Did the data survived?
Knowing Stu, he would have want us to discuss his accident and not
wait for an NTSB report which may not tell us anything.
http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?e...30X01689&key=1

Ramy

On Nov 8, 6:10 pm, Ramy wrote:
On Oct 28, 7:15 am, Frank Whiteley wrote:

Colorado soaring pilotStewartKissell perished Friday in the crash of
his Ventus on Methodist Mountain after towing out of Salida,
Colorado. A search involving 11 CAP aircraft and other local pilots
was started at 7am Saturday morning after he failed to return from the
Friday flight. The wreckage was spotted about 7:30pm Saturday and
searchers reached the rugged, remote site about three hours later.

Stewartwas son of Emil Kissell, a long time California soaring
pilot. He was an occasional contributor to RAS and frequently
corresponded with me on SSA, soaring safety, and other flight topics
and was moderator of the high country Chaffee (County) Soaring Yahoo
Group.

Frank Whiteley
SSA Governor, Colorado

Are there any conclusions or substantial speculations of what may have
happened?
I understand a flight recorder was on board. Did the data survived?
Knowing Stu, he would have want us to discuss his accident and not
wait for an NTSB report which may not tell us anything.http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?e...30X01689&key=1

Ramy

The flight recorder was recovered, but it's unknown if any data
survived at this point.

Frank