Piper down in N. Georgia

METAR's show 300ft ceilings & 3SM visibility. :sad:

KAJR 050515Z AUTO 09005KT 3SM BR OVC003 16/16 A3029 RMK AO2 T01560156
KAJR 050455Z AUTO 08003KT 3SM -RA OVC003 16/16 A3030 RMK AO2 T01570157
 
I was driving through the Blue Ridge area on the way back from Chattanooga yesterday afternoon/evening. It was definitely scuddy/misty up in that area last night. Went past ATL around 9pm last night and I'm pretty sure I saw a MD80 have to go-around because they were still in the soup over the numbers.
 
May they rest in peace.
 
The news just got worse.

Now the news is reporting 3 people have died as well as a dog. They stated that the wreckage was 4ft deep in a creek bed near a trailer park adjacent to the airport.
 
The weather's been pretty soggy lately, lots of low ceilings and poor visibility.
 
Somedudeintn said:
METAR's show 300ft ceilings & 3SM visibility. :sad:

KAJR 050515Z AUTO 09005KT 3SM BR OVC003 16/16 A3029 RMK AO2 T01560156
KAJR 050455Z AUTO 08003KT 3SM -RA OVC003 16/16 A3030 RMK AO2 T01570157
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Sad for sure. Is the pilot instrument rated? Was he proficient? Was there a problem with the aircraft? Was this on an approach? 300' OVC and 3SM is not that bad depending on the approach available.. Just curious about things we may never know I guess. :(
 
JasonM said:
Sad for sure. Is the pilot instrument rated? Was he proficient? Was there a problem with the aircraft? Was this on an approach? 300' OVC and 3SM is not that bad depending on the approach available.. Just curious about things we may never know I guess. :(
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One eyewitness said he heard the engine cutout, then come back, then cutout and then the boom. Take it for what it's worth.
 
You just can't fix stupid. Very unfortunate for the two people he took with him.

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20151105X30937&key=1

Here's the pertinent details....

Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned flight to AJR.
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the pilot was not receiving radar services, nor was he in communication with air traffic control (ATC) at the time of the accident.
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The 2355 recorded weather at Toccoa Airport (TOC), Toccoa, Georgia, located 14 nautical miles southwest from AJR, included wind calm, 2 statute miles visibility, and an overcast ceiling at 200 feet. The temperature was 17 degrees C, the dew point was 17 degrees C, and the altimeter setting was 30.29 inches of mercury.
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Fearless Tower said:
You just can't fix stupid. Very unfortunate for the two people he took with him.

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20151105X30937&key=1

Here's the pertinent details....
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Quote:
Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the planned flight to AJR.
Quote:
the pilot was not receiving radar services, nor was he in communication with air traffic control (ATC) at the time of the accident.


I guess some people would rather die trying than calling in to get help. Lee Gilmer is not that far away and he would have had a better shot having an ILS and MALSR approach lighting.
 
Maybe I should feel better about this. What this guy did was so obviously stupid that it seems like it would be pretty easy to avoid this fate. On some level it's comforting to assure myself I wouldn't allow myself to do such a thing. I don't know. Maybe I'm kidding myself.
 
Bill Jennings said:
I guess some people would rather die trying than calling in to get help. Lee Gilmer is not that far away and he would have had a better shot having an ILS and MALSR approach lighting.
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From my reading (IMC prevailed) there was widespread IMC and the pilot was either scud running in low ifr conditions, or flying in the clouds without a clearance.
 
Wow, when I saw that this happened I checked to see if there were any planned flights into or out of AJR and did not see any, but I thought maybe he just diverted there.

I can't believe he wasn't instrument rated or talking to anyone and operating in those conditions. Really sad...

I'm curious if this was a new PP who thought he was invincible, or someone who's been flying for a while and his stupidity finally caught up to him.
 
TangoWhiskey said:
You'd think that'd reduce the instances of stupid pilot crashes, wouldn't you? :dunno: :yikes:
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It may get worse. As fuel gets cheaper, you may see an uptick as more folks go flying who have been sitting on the sidelines for a while.

I hope I'm wrong.
 
Fearless Tower said:
It may get worse. As fuel gets cheaper, you may see an uptick as more folks go flying who have been sitting on the sidelines for a while. I hope I'm wrong.
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I hope so too....

Very sad that this person took innocent lives with him. We have met the enemy and he is us.

I flew into Ocean city once and was number two to land behind a Dakota, when I shot the approach and landed there was a guy and his wife in a mooney heading to the ramp. I had words with him thinking he had radio problems but his response was "I don't like to talk to approach they get you in trouble" Approach never called him out and I never saw him come up on my Zaon. The conversation took a turn for the worse after that exchange....My Bride was not happy with me and I'm sure when I finished his wife was not happy with him or the stunt he pulled. At least I felt better.
 
GMascelli said:
I hope so too....

Very sad that this person took innocent lives with him. We have met the enemy and he is us.

I flew into Ocean city once and was number two to land behind a Dakota, when I shot the approach and landed there was a guy and his wife in a mooney heading to the ramp. I had words with him thinking he had radio problems but his response was "I don't like to talk to approach they get you in trouble" Approach never called him out and I never saw him come up on my Zaon. The conversation took a turn for the worse after that exchange....My Bride was not happy with me and I'm sure when I finished his wife was not happy with him or the stunt he pulled. At least I felt better.
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Knowing he was breaking the law, he probably had his xpdr off.
 
Somedudeintn said:
Wow, when I saw that this happened I checked to see if there were any planned flights into or out of AJR and did not see any, but I thought maybe he just diverted there.

I can't believe he wasn't instrument rated or talking to anyone and operating in those conditions. Really sad...

I'm curious if this was a new PP who thought he was invincible, or someone who's been flying for a while and his stupidity finally caught up to him.
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Why can't you believe it? It happens with regularity. People flying well beyond their capability often in aircraft poorly maintained. If you keep up with the accident reports you'll see this is true. An IFR rating is of little good unless you've flown lots of hours with an old pro who has it down cold.
 
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