We Lost One of the Good Guys

[Jay Honeck]

Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died
ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner. A passenger also
died in the crash, although we have no further information about this
person.

Blane was one of the truly good guys. In his late 30s, Blane was a
youthful, positive and upbeat influence at the airport, and on
everyone around him. He was a pilot's pilot -- a CFII, charter, and
homebuilder who flew everything, and with everyone he could. His
love of aviation was contagious, and he introduced many people to
aviation over the years.

He was also my son's old guitar teacher.

No one knows what happened, but from the pictures of the wreckage it
was not a survivable impact. The weather was not a factor -- it was
cold but clear all day long. Knowing Blane's level of skill and
proficiency, I'm putting money on a mechanical failure of some sort --
but we may never know.

Be careful out there, everyone.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[GrtArtiste]

On Feb 3, 9:49 am, "Jay Honeck" > wrote:
> Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died
> ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner. A passenger also
> died in the crash, although we have no further information about this
> person.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070203/NEWS01/702030323/1079

GrtArtiste

[[email protected]]

Jay, did you happen to know the aircraft type?

Mike Wilson

[B A R R Y]

On 3 Feb 2007 06:49:21 -0800, "Jay Honeck" > wrote:

>Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died
>ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner.

Sorry for your loss.

[karl gruber[_1_]]

Sorry to hear that Jay




"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died
> ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner. A passenger also
> died in the crash, although we have no further information about this
> person.
>
> Blane was one of the truly good guys. In his late 30s, Blane was a
> youthful, positive and upbeat influence at the airport, and on
> everyone around him. He was a pilot's pilot -- a CFII, charter, and
> homebuilder who flew everything, and with everyone he could. His
> love of aviation was contagious, and he introduced many people to
> aviation over the years.
>
> He was also my son's old guitar teacher.
>
> No one knows what happened, but from the pictures of the wreckage it
> was not a survivable impact. The weather was not a factor -- it was
> cold but clear all day long. Knowing Blane's level of skill and
> proficiency, I'm putting money on a mechanical failure of some sort --
> but we may never know.
>
> Be careful out there, everyone.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[Peter Dohm]

That's a real shame.

Peter

[Cecil Chapman]

My deepest condolences on the loss of your friend.... He taught guitar,
too; sounds like he was a well-rounded guy. Not that one would wish ill of
anyone, but it has always amazed me that the nicest people seem to always be
the one's we lose, instead of the not-so-nice individuals.

Take care and you fly safe too!

--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil E. Chapman
CFI-A, CP-ASEL-IA

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
this miracle that lies in our hands and beneath our feet"
- Cecil Day Lewis -

[Jay Honeck]

> Jay, did you happen to know the aircraft type?

Latest word is they were ferrying a homebuilt amphibious plane back
from Washington State. There can't be too many of those.

They almost made it home.

:-(
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> My deepest condolences on the loss of your friend.... He taught guitar,
> too; sounds like he was a well-rounded guy. Not that one would wish ill of
> anyone, but it has always amazed me that the nicest people seem to always be
> the one's we lose, instead of the not-so-nice individuals.

We were talking about that today. For some reason, the horse's you-
know-whats never seem to come to an untimely end.

Blane leaves behind a wife and two little kids. I'm sure they are
going to be hurting for a long, long time.

My daughter, of course, is freaked out by this. It's hard for her not
to project hereself into their shoes, of course. We're all dreading
the funeral...

And we STILL don't know who the passenger was. Everyone is calling
everyone, making sure that their friends are still alive and kicking.

:-(
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[NW_Pilot]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died
> ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner. A passenger also
> died in the crash, although we have no further information about this
> person.
>
> Blane was one of the truly good guys. In his late 30s, Blane was a
> youthful, positive and upbeat influence at the airport, and on
> everyone around him. He was a pilot's pilot -- a CFII, charter, and
> homebuilder who flew everything, and with everyone he could. His
> love of aviation was contagious, and he introduced many people to
> aviation over the years.
>
> He was also my son's old guitar teacher.
>
> No one knows what happened, but from the pictures of the wreckage it
> was not a survivable impact. The weather was not a factor -- it was
> cold but clear all day long. Knowing Blane's level of skill and
> proficiency, I'm putting money on a mechanical failure of some sort --
> but we may never know.
>
> Be careful out there, everyone.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

I Did not know him but I will tip a cold one for him tonight!

[[email protected]]

Jay,

So sorry to hear of your loss. RIP :(

[Matt Whiting]

Jay Honeck wrote:

>>My deepest condolences on the loss of your friend.... He taught guitar,
>>too; sounds like he was a well-rounded guy. Not that one would wish ill of
>>anyone, but it has always amazed me that the nicest people seem to always be
>>the one's we lose, instead of the not-so-nice individuals.
>
>
> We were talking about that today. For some reason, the horse's you-
> know-whats never seem to come to an untimely end.
>
> Blane leaves behind a wife and two little kids. I'm sure they are
> going to be hurting for a long, long time.
>
> My daughter, of course, is freaked out by this. It's hard for her not
> to project hereself into their shoes, of course. We're all dreading
> the funeral...
>
> And we STILL don't know who the passenger was. Everyone is calling
> everyone, making sure that their friends are still alive and kicking.

It sure is a bad day in Iowa. Let's hope they find the cause so that as
a legacy he can hopefully get something fixed to prevent someone else
suffering the same fate.

Matt

[Jay Honeck]

> It sure is a bad day in Iowa. Let's hope they find the cause so that as
> a legacy he can hopefully get something fixed to prevent someone else
> suffering the same fate.

Here is the latest:

http://tinyurl.com/234rln

Blane (and another guy named Josh) was flying an aircraft called a
"Spencer Air Car" back from Washington State. They had spent five
days stuck in Idaho, waiting for parts, after it had broken down
there.

They were nearly home when the engine crapped on them, for
undetermined reasons.

:-(
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Aviv Hod]

Jay Honeck wrote:
> Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died
> ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner. A passenger also
> died in the crash, although we have no further information about this
> person.
>

This is incredibly sad. Blaine was a gem of a guy and a professional
and enthusiastic CFI. He gave me my first check out in a Piper as a
newly minted private pilot and looking at his signature in my logbook
makes me sad that he's gone yet happy that I got to learn from and fly
with him.

My deepest sympathy to his family.

-Aviv