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Student Pilot on first XC solo hits SUV, quits flying (VIDEO)
William Davis said he is grateful everyone survived, but after the incident, he has decided to give up flying, saying it was all too traumatic — even though he was just four weeks away from receiving his pilot's license. "Things like that make you reconsider what is important and what could have happened," Davis said. "I have a young daughter and a wife, and they need me to be there to take care of them." (www.wfaa.com) Más...
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The pilot's inexperience is a contributing factor--and he should have been higher. The reason for a displaced threshold is because of the fence and the road being so close to the runway. But the SUV driver was absolutely careless! Less than one second made the difference between no injuries and a prop chewing through the SUV and its occupants. There should be no shame, however, in a pilot performing a go-around. Embarrassing, perhaps, but in the interest of safety there is no shame in admitting to oneself that you've made a bad approach and need to go around for another. I'd rather be embarrassed and catch some flak from my buddies watching on the ground than be dead or injured or watching someone else die because I didn't make the choice to abandon the approach. And as far as whether or not the PIC had the right of way? As my flight instructor told me over thirty years ago: "You may have the right of way, but you could be DEAD right." I just about ran through a very expensive Porsche at Addison when taxiing to the hangar. He came barreling out from behind a hangar onto the taxiway directly in front of me and to avoid him I had to brake hard. He was a pilot, but he was not very safety-minded. Again--I had the right of way but it didn't matter. You have to watch for the other guy and assume that everyone out there is trying to kill you.
Well said. There is enough blame here to go around. Same thing can happen driving. Right of way may be one thing, but after DEAD RIGHT, there is no argument!!
Yep. More than once I have avoided being t-boned by someone running a red light by stopping for my own green. Green means proceed if it's safe.
Hi Jim,
A few years ago, like a hundred or so I was landing with a flight of 3 at Reinbeck New York. I had a new C 177 with 4 sob and 0 luggage. My turn came and I followed the plane in front of me all the way to what seemed like the fence when some clown brought out the X's for the runway closing it. A green pilot, I fire-walled everything and waited as the 140 hoarse engine struggled for the pine tree tops. Needless to say it was a little sluggish so close to gross. We landed at a close by aerodrome and bussed back to Reinbeck. A trip to the ops shack revealed the reason for closing the runway was because there was no more parking available. While a go around is not a source of embarrassment picking pine cones out of the lg is or should be. 140 hp tin doesn't climb out like a fighter. I should have put it down but I didn't know why he closed the runway. " I learned about flying from that" Later I learned some more over a few beers with compatriots. I practiced some maneuvers in thet airplane and 6 months later Cessna repowered the 177 with more engine.
A few years ago, like a hundred or so I was landing with a flight of 3 at Reinbeck New York. I had a new C 177 with 4 sob and 0 luggage. My turn came and I followed the plane in front of me all the way to what seemed like the fence when some clown brought out the X's for the runway closing it. A green pilot, I fire-walled everything and waited as the 140 hoarse engine struggled for the pine tree tops. Needless to say it was a little sluggish so close to gross. We landed at a close by aerodrome and bussed back to Reinbeck. A trip to the ops shack revealed the reason for closing the runway was because there was no more parking available. While a go around is not a source of embarrassment picking pine cones out of the lg is or should be. 140 hp tin doesn't climb out like a fighter. I should have put it down but I didn't know why he closed the runway. " I learned about flying from that" Later I learned some more over a few beers with compatriots. I practiced some maneuvers in thet airplane and 6 months later Cessna repowered the 177 with more engine.
"DSPLCD THLD MKGS YELLOW" 400ft displaced threshold RWY17
One of the first lessons in flying or landing....Never land on the displaced threshold. It is displaced for a reason.
Such as a road at the end of the runway where a tall car or truck may cross.
This will turn into an excellent training video on how to stabilize an approach and NOT land on a displaced threshold.
One of the first lessons in flying or landing....Never land on the displaced threshold. It is displaced for a reason.
Such as a road at the end of the runway where a tall car or truck may cross.
This will turn into an excellent training video on how to stabilize an approach and NOT land on a displaced threshold.
If you're checking Google Earth for the displaced threshold, use the Timeline feature and move to the latest aerial photo - 5 April this year. The displaced threshold is gone.
In all fairness, while he was low had the SUV not driven in front of him he could have landed beyond the displaced threshold. That collision immediately threw his nose down. Landing normally he's have flared and floated a bit in all likelihood but your point is well taken.
