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Thread: Accident Report: Incredible

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  1. #1

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    Accident Report: Incredible

    The June issue of PILOT, the AOPA magazine, free to all members, contains a astonishing accident report.

    The basic facts are pretty simple: On the morning of Oct 10, 2010, about 9:20 am a pilot took off on an IFR flight plan from Mo going to Atlanta in a 1992 Beech Turbo Bonanza, Be 36 TC. I fly a 1988 model myself.

    When he called flight service to file the flight plan the briefer tried to give him the warnings about severe thunderstorms until noon. The pilot didn't want to hear the warnings, later said he had the info.

    The plane disintegrated in the air about 30 min later starting at about 14,800.

    Now a pilot ignoring warnings and flying into severe storms with a fatal result is tragic, but has happened before. But there is more to the story.

    The pilot had previously flown into heavy weather, so much so that this plane was overstressed and had to have major repairs done to the airframe, both complete stabilizers and both wing skins. So he had tempted fate and gotten away with it 2 years earlier. And apparently without learning from the lesson.

    Believe it or not that's not all. IT WAS THE 2ND Time!!!! Earlier in that same year the same pilot had brought in an A36 with so much damage that it was totatlled!

    It's hard to believe a person would do this, but there it is in the report,plain as day. The pilot had 790 total hours with 59 instrument, and was current. The plane had dual Garmin 430s with some weather capability.

    In my mind we hope the Lord is looking after us, if we do something we shouldn't. But that should not be His full time job, we have to use some degree of common sense on our own most of the time.
    Last edited by Bill Greenwood; 07-15-2012 at 09:53 PM.

  2. #2

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    Obviously, the pilot was hell-bent on winning a Darwin Award and pursued that goal with grim determination.
    Bill

  3. #3
    Joe Delene's Avatar
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    It usually starts with a sad report in the paper or on the net. When the final report is out much later, often the cause is much more simple that the catastrophic mechanical failure. We pilots don't like to see pilot error listed as the cause. The truth is 80+% of the time it's fairly certain the cause. Most events are more clear in hindsight, that aside it's something to keep in mind on each & every flight.

  4. #4

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    Is it possible he didn't understand the time delay in satellite radar data? That seems to be an issue these days...

  5. #5

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    I don't know what satellite radar delay is or what it had to do with this.

    The report shows that TWICE BEFORE he had "totaled" one A36 and did major damage to the BE36 that was the accident plane, and he is quoted as saying "I did it again" after the first one. I presume it was his habit to fly near or into thunderstorms.

    If he had let the FSS continue the briefing, there was a convective sigmet out for the dangerous conditions, from 8am until noon , exactly when and where he flew.

    It's like someone said let's go on the Titanic again, maybe this time the iceberg will be softer. Or let's have another Vietnam War, maybe this time it will be quick and easy. Or I wish I could invest with Bernie Madoff again, maybe this time we'd make a lot of money!

    I don't have any rational explanation for this kind of thinking or lack or it.
    Last edited by Bill Greenwood; 07-15-2012 at 05:47 PM.

  6. #6

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    I read the article in question with disbelief. I fly a J-35 who's previous owner committed suicide by thunderstorm in an A-36 after flying the '58 V-tail for 10 years. Quite ironic isn't it? The saddest part of my story is the guy took his two young teen grandsons with him.
    There is no joy in buying a plane from a widow.

  7. #7

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    This is disgusting. Did this pilot not have any friends? Someone to sit him down over coffee after the first or second incident and ask "what were you thinking?" Where was his insurance company. And for crying out loud, where was the FSDO? Surely, the repair station didn't just accept his checks for "repairs for ordinary wear and tear" without SDRs or even a phone call to the FSDO.

    If he were a military or commercial pilot, or a member of a flying club, he would not have got past his peer group without someone calling him on his judgement.

    Years ago, I buttonholded one guy, got a sneer for my trouble, then ratted him out to the FBO. He still killed himself and his passenger couple of weeks latter.If anyone sees a bad actor like this, don't hold back.

    Bob

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Dingley View Post
    Years ago, I buttonholded one guy, got a sneer for my trouble, then ratted him out to the FBO. He still killed himself and his passenger couple of weeks latter.If anyone sees a bad actor like this, don't hold back.
    Bob
    Which just points out that neither the pilot community nor the FAA has an effective way to deal with these pilots. There is currently no mechanism for stopping these maniacs. I just wish there was a way to make them do it by themselves and not take the innocent with them. I personally don't object to suicide, but taking others with you is murder in my book.
    Bill

  9. #9

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    Trashing perfectly good airplanes in hazardous weather is not against any regs that I'm aware of. Not sure what the feds are supposed to do about it. Several times every year professional pilots and aircrews fly into weather that results in aircraft damage, hull losses and/or fatalities. Should the FAA and pilot community have a mechanism to deal with these pilots as well?

    The judgement part doesn't surprise me at all. That's why suggesting to someone to use good judgement or common sense can be bad advice. What they think is "good" or "common" might be a long way from the norm.

  10. #10
    Flyfalcons's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by martymayes View Post
    Trashing perfectly good airplanes in hazardous weather is not against any regs that I'm aware of. Not sure what the feds are supposed to do about it. Several times every year professional pilots and aircrews fly into weather that results in aircraft damage, hull losses and/or fatalities. Should the FAA and pilot community have a mechanism to deal with these pilots as well?

    The judgement part doesn't surprise me at all. That's why suggesting to someone to use good judgement or common sense can be bad advice. What they think is "good" or "common" might be a long way from the norm.
    Careless and reckless comes to mind.
    Ryan Winslow
    EAA 525529
    Stinson 108-1 "Big Red", RV-7 under construction

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