Toby
Cleared for Takeoff
I was talking to my former instructor, Lou, today, and he told me he had an accident in his twin on Monday. The front gear didn't come down, and he had to crash land at ISP.
Although he tried repeatedly, he couldn't get the nosewheel to extend. He declared an emergency, but continued going around for a while, trying to work with it. No luck. They cleared one of the runways for him, and he came in and crash landed. He had to come in a little hot; it was very windy, there was wind shear and he got a gust from behind when he was quite near the ground, so he nosed down to avoid stalling, and came in on his belly. Of course, the prop hit, and there was quite a lot of damage to the engine, prop, and fuselage.
All of this with two passengers in the plane, to whom he was giving directions, i.e., open the door before we touch down, shut off the fuel, etc. As soon as the plane came to a stop on the runway, they got out and ran. Everyone was okay.
He has had two RG accidents in the past in different airplanes, which is pretty amazing. What are the odds?? I think he is the most awesome pilot, incredibly calm and incredibly upbeat. He actually laughed and told me proudly that he came in on the centerline.
I wonder if I could have handled that the way he did.
Although he tried repeatedly, he couldn't get the nosewheel to extend. He declared an emergency, but continued going around for a while, trying to work with it. No luck. They cleared one of the runways for him, and he came in and crash landed. He had to come in a little hot; it was very windy, there was wind shear and he got a gust from behind when he was quite near the ground, so he nosed down to avoid stalling, and came in on his belly. Of course, the prop hit, and there was quite a lot of damage to the engine, prop, and fuselage.
All of this with two passengers in the plane, to whom he was giving directions, i.e., open the door before we touch down, shut off the fuel, etc. As soon as the plane came to a stop on the runway, they got out and ran. Everyone was okay.
He has had two RG accidents in the past in different airplanes, which is pretty amazing. What are the odds?? I think he is the most awesome pilot, incredibly calm and incredibly upbeat. He actually laughed and told me proudly that he came in on the centerline.
I wonder if I could have handled that the way he did.