Pilot's 2nd Fatal Accident

SUNDAY'S Plane Crash Is Pilot's 2nd Fatal Accident
KOMO - Seattle,WA,USA
.... Ghyrn Loveness, 20, was flying a Cessna 170 when he crashed. KOMO 4
News has learned this is the second fatal plane crash Loveness has been
involved in. ...
http://www.komotv.com/stories/31286.htm

Aside from the fact that this lad should perhaps find a safer pastime...

Did he really land his Cessna 170, after a mid-air collision, with his
engine no longer attached to the airframe -- by turning on the *auto-pilot*?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:rPnqc.73665$iF6.6195912@attbi_s02...
Aside from the fact that this lad should perhaps find a safer pastime...

Did he really land his Cessna 170, after a mid-air collision, with his
engine no longer attached to the airframe -- by turning on the
*auto-pilot*?

The way I read it is that he had turned on his autopilot and was looking at
a map when the mid-air happened.

As for flying without the engine attached, well, we see once again why
eyewitness accounts are unreliable. However, the photo does show an airplane
with the whole cowling and engine missing. Perhaps they were ripped off when
he hit the power lines.

It seems unfair to say that this is the pilot's second fatal accident when
his plane suffered a power failure and he was not even at the controls when
it crashed. The NTSB report of that crash says:

NTSB Identification: SEA03FA124
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, July 04, 2003 in East Wenatchee, WA
Aircraft: Beech A36TC, registration: N279WP
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.
Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been
completed.

On July 4, 2003, approximately 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36TC,
N279WP, impacted the terrain during an attempted forced landing in hilly
terrain about three miles northwest of Pangborn Memorial Airport, Wenatchee,
Washington. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, one of his
passengers received serious injuries, and the other passenger received minor
injuries. The aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained
substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which
departed Dryden Airport, Cashmere, Washington, about 10 minutes earlier, was
being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been
filed. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the back seat passenger, the pilot took off from Cashmere with
the intention of flying to Wenatchee in order to refuel before heading back
to the Puget Sound area. While the aircraft was about four miles from the
Wenatchee Airport and maneuvering to enter the pattern, the engine suffered
a sudden loss of all power. The pilot then attempted to land in a wheat
field growing on a flat area in the hilly terrain. Although his initial
touchdown was successful, he was not able to get the aircraft stopped before
it reached the end of the field, whereupon it slid into the ravine and
impacted the ravine's far wall.

in article , C J Campbell at
wrote on 5/18/04 7:40 AM:


It seems unfair to say that this is the pilot's second fatal accident when
his plane suffered a power failure and he was not even at the controls when
it crashed.

Indeed. The PIC of that flight was Loveness' father, meaning that the young
man bears absolutely no responsibility for whatever happened, be it engine
failure or otherwise.

As for this latest accident, we don't know much yet, but it's worth noting
that "see and avoid" is the responsibility of not just one pilot, but ALL
pilots involved. It may turn out that this kid is a perfectly competent
pilot who is merely incredibly unlucky (or incredibly lucky, depending on
how you choose to look at it).

"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message
...
in article , C J Campbell at
wrote on 5/18/04 7:40 AM:


It seems unfair to say that this is the pilot's second fatal accident
when
his plane suffered a power failure and he was not even at the controls
when
it crashed.

Indeed. The PIC of that flight was Loveness' father, meaning that the
young
man bears absolutely no responsibility for whatever happened, be it engine
failure or otherwise.

As for this latest accident, we don't know much yet, but it's worth noting
that "see and avoid" is the responsibility of not just one pilot, but ALL
pilots involved. It may turn out that this kid is a perfectly competent
pilot who is merely incredibly unlucky (or incredibly lucky, depending on
how you choose to look at it).


The more I hear about it, the more that appears to be the case. It looks
like the Centurion descended into the 170 from behind -- not much anybody
could do about it. The 170 would have been hidden under the Centurion's
cowling and the Centurion would not have been visible to anyone in the 170.

C J Campbell wrote:

The way I read it is that he had turned on his autopilot and was looking at
a map when the mid-air happened.

He may not even have had one. A lot of pilots I know use "on autopilot" to refer to a
period in which they don't need to provide any control inputs. He may simply have
meant that he was flying along nice and relaxed and then WHAM.

George Patterson
I childproofed my house, but they *still* get in.

"C J Campbell" wrote in
:

snip
It seems unfair to say that this is the pilot's second fatal accident
when his plane suffered a power failure and he was not even at the
controls when it crashed. The NTSB report of that crash says:
snip

All's fair during love, war, and sweeps week?

in article , Judah at
wrote on 5/19/04 6:39 PM:

"C J Campbell" wrote in
:

snip
It seems unfair to say that this is the pilot's second fatal accident
when his plane suffered a power failure and he was not even at the
controls when it crashed. The NTSB report of that crash says:
snip

All's fair during love, war, and sweeps week?

Except that it isn't just the media that seems to have jumped to
conclusions...

On Tue, 18 May 2004 13:02:15 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

Aside from the fact that this lad should perhaps find a safer pastime...

Did he really land his Cessna 170, after a mid-air collision, with his
engine no longer attached to the airframe -- by turning on the *auto-pilot*?

Good question. The report was ambiguous. It could be interpreted
that he was putting on the autopilot just prior to the crash.
Depending on how you interpret what was written, the autopilot could
have saved his butt or contributed to the cause of the accident by
providing a distraction. The investigation will sort it all out, I'm
sure.
Rich Russell

"Richard Russell" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 18 May 2004 13:02:15 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

Aside from the fact that this lad should perhaps find a safer pastime...

Did he really land his Cessna 170, after a mid-air collision, with his
engine no longer attached to the airframe -- by turning on the
*auto-pilot*?

Good question. The report was ambiguous. It could be interpreted
that he was putting on the autopilot just prior to the crash.
Depending on how you interpret what was written, the autopilot could
have saved his butt or contributed to the cause of the accident by
providing a distraction. The investigation will sort it all out, I'm
sure.

Sounds a bit like this one where the pilot was looking down (to engage the
autopilot??) and had a collision.
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...11X09798&key=1