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Deep snow, steep slope complicated Cirrus chute-pull rescue near Aspen
By the time Mountain Rescue Aspen volunteers made it within a half-mile of a small plane crash Monday evening near Lenado, it was pitch dark, snowing heavily and the wind was blowing hard. (www.aspentimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Hmmmm.. very suspicious! Sounds like this pilot was way over his head. Flying in the mountains requires a special type of skill and knowledge, which I suspect this pilot didn't have. Pulling your chute in mountainous terrain is not likely a very good idea unless you're reasonably assured of not landing in the trees like they did. Tree covered steep terrain is far from the ideal landing site and full of perilous possibilites. I suspect there was nothing wrong with the aircraft engine but rather some instrumentation issues that a properly trained pilot flying within his skill level, could have found a better landing site than on a mountainside. They are very lucky and thankfully no rescuers were injured, or worse.
yet another case where the pilot ran out of talent
Is there a chance he just had a frozen pitot tube and saw his airspeed dropping?
the rescuers are indeed the real heroes here...glad none of them were injured or killed trying to get to these folks. Article says nothing about the pilot's ratings....I wonder. And yes, flying in mountains, especially the northern mountains...and especially in winter...you best be well prepared for days in the bush.
I think cirrus pilots know there is a chute attached and start wondering if works. Either that or cirrus puts them on knowing sooner or later your going to need it.
Glad he all worked out no matter what the cause....but amazing my a$$. Sounds like another crappy cirrus pilot who put more value in his plane’s chute then his sub-par pilot skills. He probably choose right. I have no idea what the situation, you don’t either, but if I spent no time training or keeping up my skills I would have probably pulled the chute too. But while this guy was waiting in the snow, I feel pretty good I would have been in the FBO drinking coffee and not calling insurance agent.