Kiloalphadriver
Pre-takeoff checklist
The recent discussion of the HDN accident reminding me of this accident 18 years ago.
I saw the airplane the next day on the ramp at HDN and couldn't believe my eyes! I have no idea how it was able to stay in the air.
The pilot was a long time acquaintance of mine and we talked about it several days later. He said he was diverted by company on his way to DEN to pick up freight at HDN. He was starting down for HDN when center said he would be #2 for the approach (it was dark, but VMC) and he said the aircraft on the app in sight and he would cancel and follow it in. He had the airport and the town in sight when the next thing he knew, he was in the trees!
He said he was on the barber pole and he felt that's what saved him. Sheer speed. It was pure luck that he hit the down slope side of this hill and not the other side.
He quit flying after this accident and I lost track of him. I don't know if he ever went back to it.
The lesson here is you can't see the mountains any better at night then you can in the clouds! Fly the IFR procedures into (and out off) airports surrounded by terrain at night. It may take a little longer, but you'll arrive alive.
Blacktail Butte just NE of the JAC airport has killed more than a few over the years on severe clear nights. I'm guessing poster Ben here can attest to that.
http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001206X00897&ntsbno=FTW94LA092&akey=1
I saw the airplane the next day on the ramp at HDN and couldn't believe my eyes! I have no idea how it was able to stay in the air.
The pilot was a long time acquaintance of mine and we talked about it several days later. He said he was diverted by company on his way to DEN to pick up freight at HDN. He was starting down for HDN when center said he would be #2 for the approach (it was dark, but VMC) and he said the aircraft on the app in sight and he would cancel and follow it in. He had the airport and the town in sight when the next thing he knew, he was in the trees!
He said he was on the barber pole and he felt that's what saved him. Sheer speed. It was pure luck that he hit the down slope side of this hill and not the other side.
He quit flying after this accident and I lost track of him. I don't know if he ever went back to it.
The lesson here is you can't see the mountains any better at night then you can in the clouds! Fly the IFR procedures into (and out off) airports surrounded by terrain at night. It may take a little longer, but you'll arrive alive.
Blacktail Butte just NE of the JAC airport has killed more than a few over the years on severe clear nights. I'm guessing poster Ben here can attest to that.
http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20001206X00897&ntsbno=FTW94LA092&akey=1