This sucks.

http://www.ksbw.com/news/man-mowing-law ... e/34576932

Keep your head up and eyes looking at where you are going folks!

Saw this on Facebook. Sad for sure.

Tragic-- but points out the need to "see and avoid" when operating in the aviation world. IMHO the mower is the wild card in the equation, he shoulda really been looking out for landing traffic and been ready to drive off the runway and out of the way. Dunno if the guy on the mower had a handheld radio, but quite likely the PT22 didn't have a radio so it probably wouldn't done any good anyway. Also this illustrates why it's a good idea to fly a pattern or fly over the runway to look things over. I know people who like to do straight-ins and IMHO it's too easy to miss seeing something on the runway by doing so. I much prefer an upwind (aka "360 overhead") entry so I can eyeball the airport environment.

hotrod180 wrote:Tragic-- but points out the need to "see and avoid" when operating in the aviation world. IMHO the mower is the wild card in the equation, he shoulda really been looking out for landing traffic and been ready to drive off the runway and out of the way. Dunno if the guy on the mower had a handheld radio, but quite likely the PT22 didn't have a radio so it probably wouldn't done any good anyway. Also this illustrates why it's a good idea to fly a pattern or fly over the runway to look things over. I know people who like to do straight-ins and IMHO it's too easy to miss seeing something on the runway by doing so. I much prefer an upwind (aka "360 overhead") entry so I can eyeball the airport environment.

It mentions that the pilot called on CTAF 3 times. Also that the mower was heard talking to a plane earlier.

It doesn't matter if the guy on the mower or anyone else is using a radio at a place like that. A guy on a mower doesn't have a fraction of the situational awareness with or without a radio compared to a guy in the air. It was the responsibility of the pilot and the pilot alone to choose to execute a landing or not, and while a situation can sometimes get the best of us, and while deer and gopher holes will always exist, the consequences of a landing lie squarely with the pilot.

This is at least the second mower/aircraft wreck I've heard about this year. Tragic.

lesuther wrote:It doesn't matter if the guy on the mower or anyone else is using a radio at a place like that. A guy on a mower doesn't have a fraction of the situational awareness with or without a radio compared to a guy in the air. It was the responsibility of the pilot and the pilot alone to choose to execute a landing or not, and while a situation can sometimes get the best of us, and while deer and gopher holes will always exist, the consequences of a landing lie squarely with the pilot.

This is at least the second mower/aircraft wreck I've heard about this year. Tragic.

BS, Wait until the facts come out!!
The guy might have had contact with the mower guy or not, mower guy might have decided to get across the runway after the guy set down!! Sure not the pilots fault in that sinario, could think of a lot of others.
Sure it is sad and terrible and thoughts to both the pilot and passenger, also to the family who lost a loved one!!
I know with my Skybolt once you line up with the runway it could cmpletely disapear and you would not know until your wheels did'nt touch down!!