Forces of sorrow Mike Patey. I am heartbroken because of the Draco. You built the dream plane I wanted to see alive.

There but for the Grace of God, etc. I have certainly made some poor judgment mistakes in my flying life, and some of them came back to haunt me. Others I've gotten away with. And sometimes, stuff just happens. On a more precise note, I've landed and taken off in horrendous winds, such that taxiing was extremely difficult, especially turning downwind and keeping it altogether. Of course, I'm flying a nose-dragger, which makes it easier. But direct crosswinds of the magnitude involved in this case, with strong gusts, take more finesse than even the best pilots can muster--and sometimes, those gusts come out of nowhere.

I had that experience only a few months ago. I had taken off on GXY's 10 in a very slight breeze. Later I came back to find that the wind was now from about 360 at about 10 G 14, by no means an extreme crosswind with an almost negligible tailwind component. So it was just a little work to stay lined up, but not much. But just before touchdown, a much bigger gust hit, and it tossed the airplane cattywampus to the runway, and well off the centerline. My feet were quicker than my throttle hand, and hard right rudder straightened the airplane out just as the upwind tire hit as I cranked in full left aileron. And the landing was successful, if not pretty, almost next to the runway edge. As I taxied in, I repeated to myself over and over, "why didn't you land on 35?"

So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes. That's better than the many, many pilots who will blame everyone but themselves for their mistakes.

Cary

Cary wrote:So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes.
Cary

For those of us who don't know, what are these aviation achievements everyone keep referring to?

asa wrote:When I first saw the picture then watched the video I was also surprised by how much airframe destruction there was. Would not have expected the wings to fold, almost looks like the thing pancaked in from 50ft until you watch the video. Not questioning anything airplane or pilot, that was just my initial observation.

Asa - I thought the same thing. I'm not sure how they are designed but there has to be some incredible shearing load on the bolts that connect the wings to the spar carry-through. If that was a Cessna 18X the wings would still be on it. I wonder what a 210 would look like in that crash sequence.

Tim

Battson wrote:

Cary wrote:So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes.
Cary

For those of us who don't know, what are these aviation achievements everyone keep referring to?

All I know is what I've seen, some incredibly short field ops, both landings and take offs.

Cary

behindpropellers wrote:

asa wrote:When I first saw the picture then watched the video I was also surprised by how much airframe destruction there was. Would not have expected the wings to fold, almost looks like the thing pancaked in from 50ft until you watch the video. Not questioning anything airplane or pilot, that was just my initial observation.

Asa - I thought the same thing. I'm not sure how they are designed but there has to be some incredible shearing load on the bolts that connect the wings to the spar carry-through. If that was a Cessna 18X the wings would still be on it. I wonder what a 210 would look like in that crash sequence.

Tim

Keep in mind you're comparing a strutted/braced wing to a cantilevered wing.

This stuff:

http://inspire.eaa.org/2019/04/03/twin- ... of-nature/

Battson wrote:

Cary wrote:So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes.
Cary

For those of us who don't know, what are these aviation achievements everyone keep referring to?

Well - aviation hall of fame.. and currently holds a few world records - one of which was held by Howard Hughes - I would start there...

Two truisms come to mind,

It’s easier to learn from others then have to learn it all ourselves, so for that we own Mr Patey a thank you.

The other one I reference often to the newer, entitled generation is,

You can have 10000 of experience OR one 10000 hour experience, hopefully they both occur on the same day

Nothing beats either experience or learning from others experience, again we own a thank you to Mr. Patey

Glad to hear that only pride was damaged, no physical harm and we all look forward to Draco II

Just remember every single one of you posting in this thread are only one takeoff away from the same fate.

You don't have to admit it here, but I know some of you are saying "not me" in your heads.

Pilots far greater than Mike Patey have kicked the bucket after making bad decisions.

The internet kinda sucks sometimes. [emoji53]

corefile wrote:

Battson wrote:

Cary wrote:So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes.
Cary

For those of us who don't know, what are these aviation achievements everyone keep referring to?

Well - aviation hall of fame.. and currently holds a few world records - one of which was held by Howard Hughes - I would start there...

The comparison to Howard Hughes is apt in some ways. Pouring millions of dollars into a series of exotic planes. The aircraft are (were) impressive in their own right.

Seeing as everyone here seems to have a strong opinion, here's another.

He did a good job owning his mistake. We could all be that guy. Many of us have taken off on a gusty crosswind day.

The other comments have a fair foundation too. The short takeoffs and speed records people referred to - that is the exotic aircraft doing all the work.

corefile wrote:

Battson wrote:

Cary wrote:So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes.
Cary

For those of us who don't know, what are these aviation achievements everyone keep referring to?

Well - aviation hall of fame.. and currently holds a few world records - one of which was held by Howard Hughes - I would start there...

Well... Not THE Aviation Hall of Fame...


The "Sport Air Racing League Hall of Fame" A very nice accomplishment but not THE "Aviation Hall of Fame"

Opinion.

Mike s a class act!

Make no mistakes the STOL pilots are racing. In all forms of racing there will be crashes and possible death. People who race or take calculated risk, look at flying differently than the average pilot. People who race make bold choices. Non-racers might say reckless. Taking off in the conditions was a bold choice.

A normal pilot not at the Reno air Races would have used a runway 14.

Myself and another Maule pilot were at a friends place in the Mojave Desert a few years back. 850' sand strip, narrow, big cactus on both sides, with power lines at 950'.

A 90° cross wind 20G30 KTS We wanted to go home. After much hand ringing, discussion, and contemplation, we made the decision to stay put. The next morning it was calm. Staying put was the right call. It sure was hard not to have a go at it.

Mike talked about not buying insurance for STOL $45000. Yes $45000 I sure hope he had regular insurance. HOPE HOPE!


Cheers...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:Opinion.

Mike s a class act!

Make no mistakes the STOL pilots are racing. In all forms of racing there will be crashes and possible death. People who race or take calculated risk, look at flying differently than the average pilot. People who race make bold choices. Non-racers might say reckless. Taking off in the conditions was a bold choice.

A normal pilot not at the Reno air Races would have used a runway 14.

Myself and another Maule pilot were at a friends place in the Mojave Desert a few years back. 850' sand strip, narrow, big cactus on both sides, with power lines at 950'.

A 90° cross wind 20G30 KTS We wanted to go home. After much hand ringing, discussion, and contemplation, we made the decision to stay put. The next morning it was calm. Staying put was the right call. It sure was hard not to have a go at it.

Mike talked about not buying insurance for STOL $45000. Yes $45000 I sure hope he had regular insurance. HOPE HOPE!


Cheers...Rob

I was under the impression that there was a runway more favorable to the conditions. Also, I do not know too many racers that race with their wife and buddy with them. In high school I raced cars on the streat with girlfriend or buddy in the car, but i was pretty stupid back then. Just a thought Rob

qmdv wrote:
I was under the impression that there was a runway more favorable to the conditions. Also, I do not know too many racers that race with their wife and buddy with them. In high school I raced cars on the streat with girlfriend or buddy in the car, but i was pretty stupid back then. Just a thought Rob

Mike was not racing. I think he was going home. Mike is a racer. All those Cowboy guys are bold. He was taking off on 26. Wind was from 160.

mcpilot wrote:

corefile wrote:

Battson wrote:

Cary wrote:So while I am aware that Mike has piloting talent that I've never had, and I can agree with the naysayers who say he should have either waited or asked for a different runway, I appreciate that he owns his own mistakes.
Cary

For those of us who don't know, what are these aviation achievements everyone keep referring to?

Well - aviation hall of fame.. and currently holds a few world records - one of which was held by Howard Hughes - I would start there...

Well... Not THE Aviation Hall of Fame...


The "Sport Air Racing League Hall of Fame" A very nice accomplishhment but not THE "Aviation Hall of Fame"

Aside from the obvious, which hall of fame are you a member of?

Bagarre wrote:
Aside from the obvious, which hall of fame are you a member of?

Ok...I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Hammer wrote:

Bagarre wrote:
Aside from the obvious, which hall of fame are you a member of?

Ok...I don't care who you are, that's funny.

A grand total of FOUR posts. All flame, no substance.

akaviator wrote:

Hammer wrote:

Bagarre wrote:
Aside from the obvious, which hall of fame are you a member of?

Ok...I don't care who you are, that's funny.

A grand total of FOUR posts. All flame, no substance.

Really? No substance? Set limits and keep those limits. use good judgment?

Right, no substance.....

Another accident thread spiraled into a shit heap of arguing. Disappointing. Seems to be a standard and reliable arc of accident discussions where others don't share our exact philosophy of an event that doesn't really affect any of us, yet we feel pressured to reconcile what makes us insecure about the most feared of events.

Well known guy wads his well known airplane on a video that leaves little mystery unsolved, then provides a quick cathartic analysis for his subscribers, leaving most everyone satisfied with the questions surrounding the event. Pretty simple. Could have been a lot worse. Glad he's ok.

Moving on...