jangell said:
I wouldn't be quick to judge them.
Look how small that "runway" is.
That airplane is as SLOW as you can possibly fly it when it hits the tree landing. I'm sure he miscalculated a foot or so, and that is why he hit. He wouldn't have any ANY airspeed to avoid it at that point.
To me it looks like you better be able to hit your landing spot within about 3 feet at near stall speeds for such operations.
That's one of those jobs that would have a lot of pressure. Another pilot dropped those guys off, Why shouldn't you be able to pick them up?
Perhaps when you dropped htem off there was a big headwind that helped out, now there isn't. You going to just leave these hunters here?
Most of those pilots are *very* skilled.
That's why it's called bush flying. No one ever said it was safe.
Ok, point by point, and I'm never quick to judge, but I have experience with clipping trees occasionally.
1) Runway wasn't small, and that was fairly benign tundra, pasture land in Texas can be much worse.
2) That airplane was AT LEAST 5 kts fast, he bounced 3 freaking times, that means excess energy, he was trying to do an attitude landing.
3) You should be able to hit your mark, or a safe disstance beyond regardless of the job. Dude flat out did not need to even be lined up witth that tree, wasn't necessary, plenty of lateral space in the scene.
4) Correct, whether someone else dropped them off or not each and every situation is different and requires an on sight command decission. BTW, notice all the reasonably flat clear land there, he didn't have to land in front of the camp either, he could have taxied there. That's why they call you pilot in COMMAND.
5) If some one is accepting payment for his/her services, *very* good is a MINIMUM standard, and this persons judgement did not even meet that.
6) Correct, it's bush flying, and by its nature is inherently dangerous, that why the pilot must not F*** up, and this one did, twice. If I was one of the hunters I would have taken the takeoff after seeing that landing, it showed poor judgement and poor control of the aircraft. The video shows quite a bit, enough to pooch the guy with the feds I'm sure for 90 days and a 709 ride, and I guarantee the examiner will require some bush landings and a heavy oral on performance.