Ben,
I've never met you, but I've always found your posts interesting and thought provoking. As others have said, THANKS for being there, helping another pilot's family in time of need.

I took a couple of air crash investigation classes in college. I found it fascinating to see how much can be determined from tiny little clues that are left. I am sure that your assistance and knowledge of the experimental side of aviation was helpful to the NTSB.

Take a little time for yourself now. You deserve it.

L2A

Thanks for stepping up to the plate Ben.

I've been really fortunate not to have to have much contact with NTSB investigators in my life, but I had a friend who died in a Mooney accident many years ago, and I found the NTSB investigator to be as meticulous and pleasant to deal with as you found your NTSB gal to be. I asked him if he minded if I looked over the scene, and he welcomed it--he said he was finished with the scene, but if I found anything or had any questions about things, to call him.

As always, there's a lot of speculation about any accident, and the things they look at, most of us would just bypass as being unimportant. My friend's accident was a classic case of a VFR pilot losing control in IMC, so there wasn't a lot to find, as the wreckage was scattered over nearly half a mile--he'd crashed in a relatively shallow dive at very high speed. When I had talked with the Investigator, he was bothered by not finding some of the instruments, although he'd spent several days on scene. As it happened, I'd found the altimeter some 2500' from the point of initial impact, and the portable oxygen set farther away than that. Stuff had just splayed out in a fan pattern upon impact, in a relatively rough field--it was just happenstance that I happened to come upon those 2 things, as they weren't very visible unless you literally walked over them.

I wish the NTSB could get its probable cause findings out quicker than they do, but for sure they are meticulous, and the folks "in the trenches" are good at what they do.

Cary

58Skylane wrote:Sorry you had to go through this difficult situation.

I'll PM you next week. I'm pretty sure I'll moving my car from Cody back to Emmett later next week. If so, I'll come through Jackson to meet up for lunch if your interested.

Take care. Pat

Hi Pat.. I am here all week.. call me

Live2aviate wrote:Ben,
I've never met you, but I've always found your posts interesting and thought provoking. As others have said, THANKS for being there, helping another pilot's family in time of need.

I took a couple of air crash investigation classes in college. I found it fascinating to see how much can be determined from tiny little clues that are left. I am sure that your assistance and knowledge of the experimental side of aviation was helpful to the NTSB.

Take a little time for yourself now. You deserve it.

L2A

Thanks guy for all you support in this deal........

Other then the insurance company or family contacting me on when they will pick up the wreckage out of my yard I am at the final chapter. I just went out and placed two crosses where the man and lady came to rest......

Since I don't know how to post pics on this site you can go to POA and they are posted over there....http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=63468


Thanks again guys for your kind words...

I have witnessed one crash. A hand propping accident with a non pilot in the cockpit. He was killed as the Comanche took off under full power while the owner chased behind. Very sad. A friend and I were first on the scene. Not good. I know how you feel Ben. Things will calm down in time.

EB

Stol wrote:

58Skylane wrote:Sorry you had to go through this difficult situation.

I'll PM you next week. I'm pretty sure I'll moving my car from Cody back to Emmett later next week. If so, I'll come through Jackson to meet up for lunch if your interested.

Take care. Pat

Hi Pat.. I am here all week.. call me 307--------

Will do Ben. I saved your number if you want to edit the post.

Well,,,, Final Chapter...... I helped the driver from Beegles load the wreckage up on his trailer last night and he came back this morning to hook up to it and it should be back in Greeley, Colorado by now.....

I hope to NEVER have to go through that again......... EVER..

I hope you, me or any of us do not have to go through what you went through again!

Sorry I never made it through Jackson last week. I ended up leaving my Bronco in Cody for now.

Every time I go to my hangar, I drive past a bunch of wrecked airplanes at Beegles--it can be really disconcerting when I take guests flying, but it tends to make me aware that it can happen to anyone--including me.

One that has been there for months now is a Learjet. Others have been everything from 172s to Bonanzas to turbine-powered 210s to various ag planes. Most have been obvious landing accidents, often gear-ups with retracts or PIO victims with folded nose gears. Many are obviously totaled from an insurance standpoint but not so badly damaged that anyone died or was even hurt seriously. Unfortunately some are so balled up that if anyone could live through it, I'd be surprised.

Be careful out there, people!

Cary