Cessna forced down by the Feds

You are thinking inside the law.
Why would anyone who is smuggling anything of flying under the radar so
to speak care about the legalities of Gross weight and Within balance?
Michelle

wrote:

I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B. I guess that an FAA action is awating this along with other
more urgent law enforcement actions!

Michelle P writes:

You are thinking inside the law.
Why would anyone who is smuggling anything of flying under the radar so to
speak care about the legalities of Gross weight and Within balance?
Michelle


I don't only fly within w/b specs only to follow the regs! I assume you don't
either, Michelle.

d.

Michelle P wrote:

Why would anyone who is smuggling anything of flying under the radar so
to speak care about the legalities of Gross weight and Within balance?

Well, to avoid a stall-spin on takeoff, for one thing. Were I smuggling stuff or
people, I pobably wouldn't be horribly concerned with exceeding the maximum
gross weight limitations, but I would certainly want to keep things inside the
vertical boundaries of the envelope.

George Patterson
He who marries for money earns every penny of it.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B. I guess that an FAA action is awating this along with other
more urgent law enforcement actions!

Ah, I thought it was four Chinese nationals plus the pilot.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B. I guess that an FAA action is awating this along with other
more urgent law enforcement actions!


You are right, it was a 172P according to the database. So, if the pilot was
smuggling four Chinese on board, then it was a pretty tight fit.

I don't really see a problem with getting four adults in a 172. You can do
it easily if you aren't carrying a full fuel load.

"C J Campbell" christophercampbellNOSPAM@hotmail.
wrote in message
oups.com...
I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B. I guess that an FAA action is awating this along with other
more urgent law enforcement actions!


You are right, it was a 172P according to the database. So, if the pilot
was
smuggling four Chinese on board, then it was a pretty tight fit.

I don't really see a problem with getting four adults in a 172. You can do
it easily if you aren't carrying a full fuel load.

Especially if they're Chinese. Wonder if the standard weights are different
there?

moo

Don't forget, you have 120 lbs cargo capacity behind the rear seats as well,
a small person ( young adult or female maybe?) could lay down back there. If
you are smuggling people or goods you really don't care that they aren't
properly strapped in. So it is possible to carry a pilot plus 4 adult
passengers. Anybody care to work up a theoretical w&b on this?



You are right, it was a 172P according to the database. So, if the pilot
was
smuggling four Chinese on board, then it was a pretty tight fit.

I don't really see a problem with getting four adults in a 172. You can
do
it easily if you aren't carrying a full fuel load.

Especially if they're Chinese. Wonder if the standard weights are
different
there?

moo

"Mike W." wrote:

Anybody care to work up a theoretical w&b on this?

Ok. With 30 gallons of fuel, 310 pounds in the front seats, 240 pounds in the
back, and 120 in the luggage compartment, a 1980 Cessna 172 with a decent radio
stack is under max gross and within the envelope. Since most of the Chinese men
I've known weigh around 140 pounds and most of the women tilt the scales below
120, it's certainly doable.

Did the AP article say if they were all adults?

George Patterson
He who marries for money earns every penny of it.

wrote in message oups.com...
I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B.


Are you guys sure it was forced down by the feds? It could have been helped down by a gravity hole...

I've read this was a 172P model (but not confirmed it). I'm still
trying to figure out how they got four adults into the plane with a
valid W&B.


Are you guys sure it was forced down by the feds? It could have been
helped down by a gravity hole...


empty wt = 1470 mom = 57330
25 gal fuel = 150 mom = 6900
frt pass & pilot = 325 mom = 13650
rear pass = 290 mom = 21170
"luggage" = 120 mom = 11400
---------------------------------
totals = 2355 lbs 110450 lb/ins (C.G. @ 46.9)


Assuming that the passengers were a little on the small side, it could be
done.