Orlando Crash Video

Jay Honeck wrote:
It really shows how little choice the poor Cessna pilot had at the last
moment, when that pickup truck suddenly appeared out of no where. His
choices were either (a) hit the truck, or (b) try to veer to the right
and avoid it.

He chose (b), thus saving everyone in the pickup truck, but gave his
life in exchange. A true hero.

I think "hero" is... well perhaps we all have a different definition of
"hero". I'd like to know more about the entire accident sequence before
judging the CFI on this one. Wasn't he landing right next to a golf couse?
What other options did he have? Is it really that bad to read-end a truck
at (a guestimate) 20 mph in a 172? (Cessna's groundspeed minus truck's
forward speed) This is all Monday morning QB - I may have made the same
decisions, but since I believe decision making is where we as pilots can
really improve the accident rate, it sure is worth thinking about and
understand the events.

I just think "hero" is too stronge of a word when in some accidents (not
specifically this one), the pilot run of of gas thereby endangering himself
and his passengers, and then lands in a field in a built-up area and is
labeled a "hero".

Hilton

What other options did he have? Is it really that bad to read-end a truck
at (a guestimate) 20 mph in a 172? (Cessna's groundspeed minus truck's

Off memory, isn't VSo in a MAUW 172 something like only 33 knots?

Again off memory I believe they have the numbers for being the safest GA
aeroplane of all time.

He chose (b), thus saving everyone in the pickup truck, but gave his
life in exchange. A true hero.

I think "hero" is... well perhaps we all have a different definition of
"hero". I'd like to know more about the entire accident sequence before
judging the CFI on this one. Wasn't he landing right next to a golf
couse?

Whether his decision to avoid the pickup truck was stupid or not, he gave
his life in missing it.

The pilot may or may not be a hero in the end -- I don't know the whole
story -- but his final action was, indeed, heroic.

I would hope that counts for something.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
He chose (b), thus saving everyone in the pickup truck, but gave his
life in exchange. A true hero.

I think "hero" is... well perhaps we all have a different definition of
"hero". I'd like to know more about the entire accident sequence before
judging the CFI on this one. Wasn't he landing right next to a golf
couse?

Whether his decision to avoid the pickup truck was stupid or not, he gave
his life in missing it.

Jay, I never claimed anything the CFI did was "stupid".

Hilton

Whether his decision to avoid the pickup truck was stupid or not, he gave
his life in missing it.

Jay, I never claimed anything the CFI did was "stupid".

I know.

But some have implied it was.

And, you know, maybe it was. But he had only a few seconds to make a
choice, and -- "there but for the grace of God" -- that could have been any
of us.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

Jay Honeck wrote:
Whether his decision to avoid the pickup truck was stupid or not, he
gave
his life in missing it.

Jay, I never claimed anything the CFI did was "stupid".

I know.

But some have implied it was.

And, you know, maybe it was. But he had only a few seconds to make a
choice, and -- "there but for the grace of God" -- that could have been
any
of us.

I am fascinated by a pilot's decision making. I have done 'stupid' things -
one made me go get my Instrument Rating. I sit in pilot meetings - the
speaker reads an accident report and the pilots kinda chuckle with a "I
would never do that!" look - but I bet the accident pilot would have thought
the same. I think if we can fix this broken part of flying, we could
seriously improve the statistics.

Hilton

the
speaker reads an accident report and the pilots kinda chuckle with a "I
would never do that!" look - but I bet the accident pilot would have thought
the same. I think if we can fix this broken part of flying, we could
seriously improve the statistics.

Yea...but how? I'm now the Safety Officer at the small cargo company I work for
and this is a problem we have. We are a safe company, but I see it in the
pilot's lounge in the morning...if an accident comes up I hear a lot "what an
idiot, why did he do that?!?" rolling their eyes type of thing.



-John
*You are nothing until you have flown a Douglas, Lockheed, Grumman or North
American*