As cruel as it sounds, you are quite right in my opinion about the "save the
kids in the schoolhouse" theory. I lost a friend in an F86 that had the same
media presentation associated with the crash. It's so common that it's
actually a known issue among professional pilots, and to many of us
represents a disservice to a pilot by tagging him with a story his
associates or anyone with half a brain knows to be untrue!
I can tell you from my own experience that when it comes to putting a
crippled airplane on the ground, you're looking for only one thing, and you
have but one thing on your mind and that's putting it into that clear area
you're trying desperately trying to reach over there because that's the only
spot you see that just might save your life. In these situations you can't
see schoolhouses. You can see people at the last second, but you're not
looking for people. You're looking for open ground, and open ground usually
will mean no people anyway.
Personally, I wish the GD media would stay the hell out of our cockpits and
stop using us to sell stories to the public. If some pilot is lucky enough
to get it into that open spot over there without killing himself and others
in the process, he has in effect done his job properly and that's good
enough for the pilots who know him. If he dies trying to get it in there,
that's ALSO good enough for the pilots who knew him and those who survive
him.
Dudley Henriques

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
news
Mike W. wrote:
Some sad news...

http://www.nbc4i.com/news/4763280/detail.html


I was working Sunday when one of the EMT's mentioned an airplane had
crashed out by the airport. A quick call to Bryant Field suggested nobody
was missing and there'd been no Mayday called.

I can't help but think this fellow was circling his father's house when he
ran dry or his engine decided to take a powder. Not that there was
anything wrong with that... nobody suggested he was buzzing, but I have to
wonder what he was circling "looking for a place to land" since he was
essentially already in the pattern for Bryant Field. The newspaper said
his parents lived about a mile from the airport. Purely conjecture at
this point....

The other thing that comes to mind is the conception people have on the
ground that he was a hero somehow "because he tried so hard not to hit
anything". Well, don't we all? In my own crash back in 1988 they said the
same thing about the excellent job I'd done avoiding the houses and kids
playing in the yards. At the time I can remember asking: "What kids? What
houses?" When something like this happens your mind focuses on the clear
space, not the obstacles.

I'm not knocking this guy. I have no doubt he did the best he could and
it just didn't work out well for him. I am delighted I wasn't flying with
him because I doubt I'd have done any better. But let's not misunderstand
what he did or why he did it. He did what any of us would do... what any
of us do. I personally always try to avoid obstacles when I land,
emergency or not.

The public perception is akin to the "great responsibility" airline pilots
feel towards all the folks in back. Actually, the great responsibility is
towards themselves. And if they arrive alive, EVERYBODY arrives alive.
These people aren't bigger than life; they're just real people. But I
digress.

The fellow sitting in the back seat of the Bonanza is still in critical
condition at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. That is an excellent
trauma center and if it's possible for the guy to pull through, they'll
find it. My prayers go to him, his family and to the families of the ones
who died. They're the ones who feel the pain.

Please excuse my rambling. This brought back some memories I don't enjoy.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN