Missing Cessna 210 - Colorado to Utah

You will mis all your important calls doing that.
thats cool, i got a cell phone so that i can call people at odd times, not the other way around :d:d
 
Where did you get the N# from? I didn’t see it in any of the news reports. Do we know for certain if the registered owner was the pilot?
 

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I text my wife while at the hold short line as a latter part of the pre-takeoff checklist. I then leave the cell phone on in normal mode (but didn't know the cell tower trick Nate detailed). I have been requesting FF on the shorter flights of late. It is easy to be skip the VFR flight plan. I text again for the shutdown checklist. She's a pilot...the texts make her happy...and jealous :)

I think I will look into the PLB. Are there any other strong recommendations besides the ACR Resqlink...maybe a different thread?
i got one too. good reviews and what most people dont know, if you had to use it in an actual emergency, they replace the unit free of cost (assume u made it out alive)
 
I text my wife while at the hold short line as a latter part of the pre-takeoff checklist. I then leave the cell phone on in normal mode (but didn't know the cell tower trick Nate detailed). I have been requesting FF on the shorter flights of late. It is easy to be skip the VFR flight plan. I text again for the shutdown checklist. She's a pilot...the texts make her happy...and jealous :)

I think I will look into the PLB. Are there any other strong recommendations besides the ACR Resqlink...maybe a different thread?
ACR Resqlink. Only downside - the battery has to be replaced every 5 years, and costs about 65% of the cost of a new unit. Of course the approved maintenance centers are mostly on the coasts because most of the sales are marine.

ACR offers rebates and sales at various times of the year. They also have a non-lithium battery version, just announced. Also deals available during SnF and Oshkosh at the ACR booths.

If you're an REI member, you get the REI rebate at the end of the year.
 
The plane in question N68640 was owned by a friend and local pilot/salesman (aviation) out of KLMO. It is a Riley Twin Turbo. Quite rare and a hell of a plane.
I have zero intel on the current owner. Previous to this pilot - it was sold to a guy in Texas.

As for the pilot - don’t have any info to share on his experience or ratings. I don’t normally chase those things down
How interesting...as per the FAA registry, the N number was cancelled the end of March 2018 and hasn't been reassigned.
 
Yeah - lot of weird stuff surrounding this “accident” not sure what to think at this point - Time will tell
 
When I was in Colorado teaching mountain flying, flight plans were an essential. Flight following was not since there are areas where you won't be in radio or radar contact below a certain altitude (an that's where the fun is!). But one thing about VFR flight plans rarely discussed is they can be updated. I learned that in my own primary training in the northeast and used it on one of my student solo cross countries when changing weather prevented me from following the original filed course. And I insisted on it with my primary students. The concept is simple - even without a change of course you reduce the potential search area letting them know how far along you have gotten.

That doesn't mean there aren't other methods which work well. Just one more in the bag of tricks.
 
41864622-F61E-43D1-ABA4-5104923A7A87.png

But, how did you make the leap of the tail number from the OP to the FAA registry? I haven't see the tail number mentioned in any of the articles that I have found.
 
M
When I was in Colorado teaching mountain flying, flight plans were an essential. Flight following was not since there are areas where you won't be in radio or radar contact below a certain altitude (an that's where the fun is!). But one thing about VFR flight plans rarely discussed is they can be updated. I learned that in my own primary training in the northeast and used it on one of my student solo cross countries when changing weather prevented me from following the original filed course. And I insisted on it with my primary students. The concept is simple - even without a change of course you reduce the potential search area letting them know how far along you have gotten.

That doesn't mean there aren't other methods which work well. Just one more in the bag of tricks.


MidLife:

Good points on dinking and dunking around valleys/ridges on your “home turf” without a flight plan. Understood

This flight however (and things get a little murkier by the hour ) — was in a Riley Twin Turbo 210. Not your average 210 - so this plane/pilot should have been in the upper teens even low 20’s with that plane.

But again — as confoundingas this whole episode is — the winds would have been merciless in that day at the upper altitudes if not down right suicidal !! Heck - KGJT was report 50-60kjot winds out of NW at only 13k

So this story becomes more sketchy as it evolves
 
But, how did you make the leap of the tail number from the OP to the FAA registry? I haven't see the tail number mentioned in any of the articles that I have found.

What “leap” ? The plane is/has been known in our local airports !! No leap - solid intel
 
I think I will look into the PLB. Are there any other strong recommendations besides the ACR Resqlink...maybe a different thread?

I have the Resqlink, but I don't have any "use" reports and hope I never do... ;-)

I know a few folks that have used the SPOT devices and like the text messaging features as well as position reports. I considered that, but they require a subscription...
 
A further note about leaving the cell on... in bad coverage in the mountains it’ll crush the phone’s battery.

I always fly with a 28800 MAh lithium pack that’ll charge the phone or the iPad (if ship’s power is lost or more likely, the stupid cables have problems, which is far more common... and yeah, our airplane is 14VDC) back up at either 2.4A or 2.1A depending on the port chosen.

On longer flights the iPad gets electrical priority if it’s not behaving and charging from ship’s power, but I tend to keep both “topped off”.

If you leave the phone on in the mountains and survive the crash, the likelihood the stupid thing will say it has “3% battery” after you dig yourself out of the wreckage is pretty high, because of that other Murphy. Not our Murphy. :)

The phone and the battery pack fit nicely in the side pocket and the charging cable can go to the phone or the iPad in its mount if needed.

In the end a PLB or 406 ELT is better once the aircraft is on the ground. But I’d kinda like to have juice in the phone too, just in case it’s in range of a tower. Often it wouldn’t be, but a hike up to higher ground might fix that. If one can hike that is.
 
A comment on cell phone coverage in the mountains. Colorado has pretty good coverage on the highways. Good but not great. Wyoming has great coverage on state highways.

Just another reason to fly IFR - I follow roads in the hill country around here.
 
T Rocket Man:
40 years in my friend - and if by book means dealing with ATC flying west over the Rocks —well count me in !! 4700 hours but who’s counting. Owned 7 airPlanes in my time and have no issue rolling up the sleeves with trolls

JM
I stand corrected, and since I don't have any experience flying in the Rockies I retract my previous statement.
 

That’s real nice that you know how to do that. So do I. However, that isn’t what I asked.

But, how did you make the leap of the tail number from the OP to the FAA registry? I haven't see the tail number mentioned in any of the articles that I have found.

Thank you. That is what I was asking in part. I know how to use the registry.
 
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Yeah - lot of weird stuff surrounding this “accident” not sure what to think at this point - Time will tell
Yeah, its like a plane that is no longer registered being flown by someone no longer current???
 
A further note about leaving the cell on... in bad coverage in the mountains it’ll crush the phone’s battery.

I always fly with a 28800 MAh lithium pack that’ll charge the phone or the iPad (if ship’s power is lost or more likely, the stupid cables have problems, which is far more common... and yeah, our airplane is 14VDC) back up at either 2.4A or 2.1A depending on the port chosen.

On longer flights the iPad gets electrical priority if it’s not behaving and charging from ship’s power, but I tend to keep both “topped off”.

If you leave the phone on in the mountains and survive the crash, the likelihood the stupid thing will say it has “3% battery” after you dig yourself out of the wreckage is pretty high, because of that other Murphy. Not our Murphy. :)

The phone and the battery pack fit nicely in the side pocket and the charging cable can go to the phone or the iPad in its mount if needed.

In the end a PLB or 406 ELT is better once the aircraft is on the ground. But I’d kinda like to have juice in the phone too, just in case it’s in range of a tower. Often it wouldn’t be, but a hike up to higher ground might fix that. If one can hike that is.
Another good idea Nate! I always bring with a decent sized lithium pack but I never thought about keeping stuff "topped off".
 
I will repeat that there was no name calling. There have been accurate descriptions of particular actions.
Illustration:
You’re a stupid ninny. <— name calling
That was a stupid thing to have done. <—- description of an act
While factually correct you could use that brain of yours and not use the word stupid when describing someone’s behavior. It is considered to be rude behavior by some. Just because you don’t find it to be rude doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t. Then when you are told it is considered to be rude you tell people that thinking your behavior is rude is stupid because they don’t understand and you’re smart. Just because you don’t believe it to be rude doesn’t change how others view the behavior and your insistence at continuing the behavior is not just rude but also disrespectful.
 
add to that “supposedly” there was a radar hit @ (1) hour before it went missing east of the Richfield,UT airport “over” I-70 !
Would think that would narrow search area and at the least locate some info/material/plane etc !!

1 hour east over I-70 — with that plane and with a general idea of wind strength and direction should have yielded more info — but nothing yet ...
 
Another good idea Nate! I always bring with a decent sized lithium pack but I never thought about keeping stuff "topped off".
I have a small, foldable solar panel that can charge a phone or ipad. Having been thru multiple CPA & CAP mountain training courses, I definitely assume no one will come after me for at least a day. The solar panel (assuming sunny weather) makes sure I have phone & ipad power. The ACR ResQLink (with builtin GPS) makes sure someone can find me.
 
While factually correct you could use that brain of yours and not use the word stupid when describing someone’s behavior. It is considered to be rude behavior by some. Just because you don’t find it to be rude doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t. Then when you are told it is considered to be rude you tell people that thinking your behavior is rude is stupid because they don’t understand and you’re smart. Just because you don’t believe it to be rude doesn’t change how others view the behavior and your insistence at continuing the behavior is not just rude but also disrespectful.
I never said it wasn’t rude, I said it wasn’t name calling.

You bring up disrespectful. It’s also disrespectful to deliberately misinterpret another’s post which is what a couple people did when responding to murphey’s post. Maybe they didn’t like my response to their poor behavior but they sure earned it. They wanted to stir stuff up then they whine about it when called out on their behavior. Tough. If you want to support those posters, by all means have at it. I will continue to post as I see fit.
 
I also fly with a battery pack to charge my devices and keep them topped off with plane power.

On my XC flights, I file a flight plan, utilize flight following and there is a app for GPS tracking service (free) I activate on my cell phone. I e-mail a link to the person I am heading to see (or a family member). That tracker eats into my battery, but provides updates along with speeds on fairly regular intervals - but - there are areas and altitudes where you won't have reliable coverage. Personally, when it's a long XC - I am perfectly ok with people knowing about where I am and when I am supposed to arrive.

Dean
 
A further note about leaving the cell on... in bad coverage in the mountains it’ll crush the phone’s battery.

I always fly with a 28800 MAh lithium pack that’ll charge the phone or the iPad (if ship’s power is lost or more likely, the stupid cables have problems, which is far more common... and yeah, our airplane is 14VDC) back up at either 2.4A or 2.1A depending on the port chosen.

On longer flights the iPad gets electrical priority if it’s not behaving and charging from ship’s power, but I tend to keep both “topped off”.

If you leave the phone on in the mountains and survive the crash, the likelihood the stupid thing will say it has “3% battery” after you dig yourself out of the wreckage is pretty high, because of that other Murphy. Not our Murphy. :)

The phone and the battery pack fit nicely in the side pocket and the charging cable can go to the phone or the iPad in its mount if needed.

In the end a PLB or 406 ELT is better once the aircraft is on the ground. But I’d kinda like to have juice in the phone too, just in case it’s in range of a tower. Often it wouldn’t be, but a hike up to higher ground might fix that. If one can hike that is.

topped off - check . those things will always be at 3% when u need em the most
that humongous size battery - check

glad i am not the only one with more than two backup is better than more than 1 backup... one..phew
 
I never said it wasn’t rude, I said it wasn’t name calling.

You bring up disrespectful. It’s also disrespectful to deliberately misinterpret another’s post which is what a couple people did when responding to murphey’s post. Maybe they didn’t like my response to their poor behavior but they sure earned it. They wanted to stir stuff up then they whine about it when called out on their behavior. Tough. If you want to support those posters, by all means have at it. I will continue to post as I see fit.
I was not talking about their behavior. Just yours. I’m glad to hear you recognize that you were being rude. Perhaps you might choose differently in the future.
 
I was not talking about their behavior. Just yours. I’m glad to hear you recognize that you were being rude. Perhaps you might choose differently in the future.
I did not say I was being rude either. I will say that I am perfectly willing to fight fire with fire. Now I’m going to add that I put zero weight on criticism from someone who only looks at one side of a conversation. Perhaps in the future you will try to keep things in context.
 
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I did say I was being rude either. I will say that I am perfectly willing to fight fire with fire. Now I’m going to add that I put zero weight on criticism from someone who only looks at one side of a conversation. Perhaps in the future you will try to keep things in context.
Just because someone does not think like you does not mean they are being rude. Intentionally calling someone stupid, then pretending you didn't by using technicalities (we all know you were calling him stupid, your intent was plain and continues to be plain), instead of actually explaining where they misunderstood, is rude and has no redeeming qualities.

You were rude to someone that simply did not interpret things the way you did. Instead, you seem to believe that anyone that does not see things the way you do is intentionally going out of their way to annoy you. It must suck to live like that. I feel sorry for you.
 
I also fly with a battery pack to charge my devices and keep them topped off with plane power.

On my XC flights, I file a flight plan, utilize flight following and there is a app for GPS tracking service (free) I activate on my cell phone. I e-mail a link to the person I am heading to see (or a family member). That tracker eats into my battery, but provides updates along with speeds on fairly regular intervals - but - there are areas and altitudes where you won't have reliable coverage. Personally, when it's a long XC - I am perfectly ok with people knowing about where I am and when I am supposed to arrive.

Dean
Codeeno:

What app are you using for this GPS Tracking ? ForeFlight ?
 
Codeeno:
Meant to say FlightAware — not Foreflight .....
 
M



MidLife:

Good points on dinking and dunking around valleys/ridges on your “home turf” without a flight plan. Understood

This flight however (and things get a little murkier by the hour ) — was in a Riley Twin Turbo 210. Not your average 210 - so this plane/pilot should have been in the upper teens even low 20’s with that plane.

But again — as confoundingas this whole episode is — the winds would have been merciless in that day at the upper altitudes if not down right suicidal !! Heck - KGJT was report 50-60kjot winds out of NW at only 13k

So this story becomes more sketchy as it evolves
John, I agree with your point - this was not a mountain joyride but a trip through/over mountainous terrain to get from here to there. In that situation, so long as the airplane was capable (a 210 is), I'd also expect altitudes at least high enough to maintain radio contact with ATC.
 
I did say I was being rude either. I will say that I am perfectly willing to fight fire with fire. Now I’m going to add that I put zero weight on criticism from someone who only looks at one side of a conversation. Perhaps in the future you will try to keep things in context.
I considered both and only addressed yours.
 
Yeah, its like a plane that is no longer registered being flown by someone no longer current???

That's just part of the total issues. Some of the below are known, others are educated guesses.

Plane not registered - known
Most likely out of annual - educated guess
ELT battery probably dead - educated guess
Probable maintenance issues - educated guess
Pilot medical expired - known
Pilot certificate suspended for a few years - according to a friend of mine
Pilot out of practice so diminished skills - educated guess - though maybe he has been flying regularly in spite of the above items

Sounds like someone with a total disregard for the rules with possible poor decision making skills. It will be interesting to read the eventual report.
 
Codeeno:

What app are you using for this GPS Tracking ? ForeFlight ?

John M,
I use Real Time GPS Tracker 2 - it's an Android app - I am sure there is an IOS version of something too. It wasn't made specifically for aviation, but, it works.

Dean
 
That's just part of the total issues. Some of the below are known, others are educated guesses.

Plane not registered - known
Most likely out of annual - educated guess
ELT battery probably dead - educated guess
Probable maintenance issues - educated guess
Pilot medical expired - known
Pilot certificate suspended for a few years - according to a friend of mine
Pilot out of practice so diminished skills - educated guess - though maybe he has been flying regularly in spite of the above items

Sounds like someone with a total disregard for the rules with possible poor decision making skills. It will be interesting to read the eventual report.

I dunno why I'm thinking this, and I hope this isn't the case, but maybe the pilot wanted to disappear, or end it.
 
It must suck to live like that. I feel sorry for you.
Sez the dude who's goat I got. :rolleyes:

I dunno why I'm thinking this, and I hope this isn't the case, but maybe the pilot wanted to disappear, or end it.
Wasn't there a famous case in FL a few years back of a pilot faking his own death to get out of financial troubles?
 
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