I've been in and out of Jackson numerous times, both VFR and IFR. With reasonable planning and a reasonably performing and lightly loaded airplane flown properly, it's a really great place, in and out. Poor planning, a marginal but heavily loaded airplane, and improper flying has caused the vast majority of accidents in the area. Several years ago, the USAF lost a C130 which hit the rocks in IMC; the entire family which owned a construction company in Cheyenne died in a 310 some years before that in IMC; there have been many, many other fatal accidents of varying kinds, both in VMC and IMC, but all of them had one of those 3 issues, poor planning, poorly performing airplane, or poor flying. This Mooney incident appears to have had all 3.

Cary

Cases dismissed after confidential settlements were reached.

http://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/faa-company-agree-to-settlements-over-wyoming-crash/article_3e845f8c-6afe-52d0-8ee6-d4a1e221c23c.html

GroundLooper wrote:Unfortunately what most of the non flying public (and even some of the flying public) don't understand is that the pilot IS the ultimate authority regarding the safety and safe operation of the airplane.

That says it all, really.

RanchPilot wrote:Cases dismissed after confidential settlements were reached.

http://trib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/faa-company-agree-to-settlements-over-wyoming-crash/article_3e845f8c-6afe-52d0-8ee6-d4a1e221c23c.html

Yeah.... Serco paid out a substantial sum for the pilots poor flying skills..........

About 20 of us could retire on the settlement amount........ And....... The Ex wife got the same amount....

yup, good points nosedragger...! for sure when i strap in to my 182T, be it headed for the back-country or just a 1 hr jaunt to boise to pick up my daughter, damn for sure i realize it is me that will determine just how successful that flight will be...if i screw up my interpretation of the wx, or etc. the risk/reward lies in my lap...not some controller's doing their level best to keep me informed. my rather short 1000 or so hours have made that quite clear to me, and while almost always on flight- following, i have come to realize that the controllers always seem to be looking out for my well-being...great service in my book...!