Family of 4 killed in Ohio plane crash

[brentspeak]

(Terrible story out of Ohio.)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4410242.h...

Dec. 18, 2006, 1:00PM
Family of 4 killed in Ohio plane crash

© 2006 The Associated Press

BUCYRUS, Ohio — A plane crashed in a field, killing four members of a Texas family and raining debris on a nearby apartment complex, authorities said.

No injuries were reported on the ground after the crash Sunday evening about 60 miles north of Columbus, state highway patrol Lt. Tony Bradshaw said.

Paul and Lillian Martin, of Austin, Texas, and their two children had been visiting relatives in Oklahoma and were flying to Searsmont, Maine, where the couple owned property, the highway patrol said. All four were killed on impact.

[sandnsea]

1. Probably pilot error

That's usually what causes crashes. Who cares, leave their bodies out in the fields until somebody can pay to go get them.

(Yes I'm being sarcastic and bitchy.)

[Ezlivin]

2. Sounds like attempting VFR in IFR conditions

The report said that there was a "light rain." The ceiling could have dropped significantly.

The owner of the flight school I attended crashed in IFR conditions while attempting to land. The crash killed him and his son. They both had years of flight time and the mistake seemed so senseless: They both knew better.

And if the pilot of the Ohio crash was only a VFR pilot and had engine trouble, that would have been one too many problems to handle. It's a damned shame that he took all of his family with him.

[brentspeak]

3. I read a lot of stories of VFR-only pilots crashing in IFR conditions

How are these underqualified pilots being allowed to take off on a runway if they're not legally allowed to do so?

[Dr.Phool]

4. Several reasons

If you take off at an uncontrolled firld, there's nobody to stop you.

In most cases the pilot wanders into a deteriorating situation.

[brentspeak]

6. Dumb question: uncontrolled fields are illegal, right?

I would hope so, at least.

[independentpiney]

8. most smaller airfields are uncontrolled

meaning there is no tower, you use unicom to state your departure and arrival intentions.

[karlrschneider]

12. What are you askiing? There are thousands of uncontrolled fields in the U.S.

??????????

[brentspeak]

13. Ok, then that means there's nothing to stop unqualified pilots from being in the air

Logically and rationally, there should be some way to prevent all non-IFR-qualified pilots from getting airborne during dicey or forthcoming dicey conditions.

[Ezlivin]

5. Changing weather conditions catch pilots unaware

Before a pilot departs he/she is supposed to check the weather at the destination airfield and in-route. And they should file a flight plan. But many pilots skip these steps to "save some time."

The weather can be beautiful when you depart, but once you are airborne it can rapidly change. And if you don't do the 180 maneuver immediately upon entering IFR conditions, you are sealing your own fate. I've left the airport in good, clear conditions only to encounter a lowering sky and reduced visibility in-route. Even though it was a pain in the ass, I turned the aircraft around and returned to my field. (It was a pain in the ass because I had to drag my wheelchair up into the plane and out of the plane each time.)

[brentspeak]

7. What if the weather goes bad, say, 20 minutes from your destination?

And it's a long ways back to where you started from? Still turn around?

[independentpiney]

9. divert to the nearest field with vfr conditions

and hope you have enough fuel to get there. I don't think it hurts to at least have some ifr simulator time in, even if you don't intend to go for upgrading your license.

[Ezlivin]

10. Get some IFR time

Definitely a good idea. In fact, as soon as I had my VFR ticket punched, my CFI started me on some "light" IFR training, both in the simulator and in the aircraft.

The GPS nav units are very sweet. They can help you find a nearby field very quickly if you need to.

[karlrschneider]

11. They apparently took off from somewhere here in Oklahoma, was probably VFR

at that point. If that was the case, it wasn't illegal. Actually there are some special circumstances when a non-IFR rated pilot can legally take off in IMC conditions. It isn't smart and isn't common but it's possible.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Speaking of airplane crashes:Three Die In Gilroy Plane Crash

Dec. 18, 2008: Three Die In Gilroy Plane Crash

Three bodies can be seen inside a small airplane that crashed into a raw sewage tank at a Gilroy wastewater treatment facility, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said Tuesday.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor confirmed that the wrecked plane was the same one that was reported missing from Nice Air flight school in San Jose and carried a flight instructor and two students, all Japanese citizens.

Vicki Gonzales, office manager of Nice Air flight school, identified the crash victims as Yoshiyuki Kato and Yasushi Miyata and their flight instructor, Shoki Haraguchi.
(snip/)

http://www.ktvu.com/news/10568450/detail.html

[L A Woman]

15. Who cares? 3000 people are dead in the war!!!!!!

Why are you even talking about ANYTHING ELSE EVER????

[independentpiney]

16. because some people also have an interest in aviation?