mower vs. PT-22

[exncsurfer]

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Man-Killed-After-Ryan-PT-22-Hits-Mower-224675-1.html

How does this happen? How do you land on a huge yellow mower? Was it not on the field on downwind, base, on final? Some mowers are quick-ish, but not that quick.

or

How do you get hit by a plane when mowing a runway? I'd think you'd be head on a swivel the whole time you're mowing, no?


apparently this is a thing, go figure:

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70663&highlight=mower

puzzled...

 

[FormerHangie]

I've heard that some taildraggers are really blind over the front. It appears the timing was just wrong for this to happen.

 

[exncsurfer]

I've heard that some taildraggers are really blind over the front. It appears the timing was just wrong for this to happen.

Yea, I figure he couldn't see straight ahead during the rollout, I just don't know where the mower could've been hiding during the approach.

 

[MAKG1]

How does this happen? How do you land on a huge yellow mower? Was it not on the field on downwind, base, on final? Some mowers are quick-ish, but not that quick.

Well, one way would be to fly a long straight-in NORDO….

The turf runway at Frazier Lake can have indistinct edges, though it's usually pretty obvious in the dry season. It could be that the mower was NEXT to the runway on downwind and ON the runway on final.

Here is an overhead of the airport in question:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9532792,-121.4634757,694m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

[FormerHangie]

Yea, I figure he couldn't see straight ahead during the rollout, I just don't know where the mower could've been hiding during the approach.

He could have been off the runway, and just pulled out onto it at the exact wrong time.

 

[Vance Breese]

It is my understanding the Pilot of the PT 22 had a hangar at the field and the lawn mower driver was a very experienced pilot based at Frazier Lake. Very sad event for everyone involved.

 

[exncsurfer]

Well, one way would be to fly a long straight-in NORDO….

The turf runway at Frazier Lake can have indistinct edges, though it's usually pretty obvious in the dry season. It could be that the mower was NEXT to the runway on downwind and ON the runway on final.

Here is an overhead of the airport in question:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9532792,-121.4634757,694m/data=!3m1!1e3

thanks for the earth link, looks like from the article photo the accident happened off to the side. Looks like there might be a paved exit just behind the plane in the photo. If so, seems like the plane was at or off the edge when this happened.