It sounds like the pilot was unconscious and his wife was taking care of
things. She probably twas trying to awake her husband and just pulled the
shoot to late.
"Montblack" wrote in message
...
("Peter Duniho" wrote)
[snip]
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5334340
Here is more, the pilot died. Sounds like the chute wasn't fully open
and working when the plane hit which explains why the cockpit is such a
mess.

From that link, it strongly suggests that the parachute was in fact
deployed only at the last minute. That would easily allow for the
possibility of the pilot having intentionally avoided the residences.

Of course, none of that explains why the pilot thought to use the
parachute at all, if the airplane was still reasonably controllable. A
controlled landing, even in the water, would likely have allowed everyone
to survive, including the pilot.


"Kehoe told Eyewitness News that his wife, Poolie, activated the plane's
parachute release. He said they bought the plane because of all of its
advanced safety features, including the parachute."

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5336586
Friend: Pilot became medically incapacitated

[Aug 28, 2006 05:26 PM]
"Indianapolis - Robert Edesess, a local oral surgeon who died while
piloting a small plane Monday morning, may have become medically
incapacitated before the crash. According to a family friend, Edesess may
have lost consciousness before the plane crash-landed into a retention
pond.

Edesess and a local attorney, Bruce Kehoe, bought the plane together just
a few days before the crash. The two had taken aviation classes together.

According to Kehoe, Edesess, 66, may have had some sort of medical event
which rendered him unconscious. Kehoe told Eyewitness News that his wife,
Poolie, activated the plane's parachute release. He said they bought the
plane because of all of its advanced safety features, including the
parachute. Kehoe said Poolie Edesess had been trained to use the
parachute, which could be seen floating in the water.

The Federal Aviation Administration will not give any statements at this
point. The NTSB is en route."


Montblack