Plane down; two fatalities in Yellowpine:

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/20 ... /13730679/

60 seconds worth of Googling turned up this: Zenith CH750 with a UL Power 350iS.

http://www.zenith.aero/profile/DavidFitzgerald

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=32FZ

Sorry to hear this news.

It just takes the air out of me every time I read one of these. Life is better truly lived, than not lived at all, but I often wish the cost wasn't so high. A sobering reminder for all of us who have flown those same routes.

Condolences to all affected.

Condolences to family and friends. Rest in peace.

The pilot's website indicates he has operated into a 1,000 foot strip, so he must have been familiar with slow and short operations. I wonder what happened? I always look for the lesson from each of these tragedies that will save my bacon some day. I've never found the hidden message or the urgent take away, but I keep looking...

I met him briefly a few weeks ago in Wyoming. He was just returning from a flight to JC, he and his wife. The bird was packed full, and it seemed at the time to be a good example of a plane being used for what it was intended for. He made one comment about the UL engine I remember, he had some problems earlier that resulted in a total rebuild, but all was well now, I got the impression that was some time ago (NOT saying it was engine related). Bad deal, pretty unforgiving country with not many options when things go TU. Seemed like a real aviator and nice guy, and I was impressed that he had a wife willing to go along, and got the impression that she was more then willing, not grudgingly going along, big difference.

Damn i hate that kind of news too....i was just there a few daze ago on our adv bikes, for sure that country is unforgiving should the fire go out...wx there just a bit hazy, but high pressure dominates right now....

RanchPilot wrote:It just takes the air out of me every time I read one of these. Life is better truly lived, than not lived at all, but I often wish the cost wasn't so high. A sobering reminder for all of us who have flown those same routes.

Condolences to all affected.

Absolutely. I hate to see anyone get hurt or killed doing this. But I love to see folks living and it sounded like he really lived. Reminds me of a line from Hemingway...

"Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive."

Sad deal for sure..........

Looks like it went straight in...... That builder /pilot had removed the leading edge slats and put on VG's to gain 5 mph in cruise speed.. I am told the stall happens REAL quick with the slats off...

Godspeed to those guys........

Man! So sad. I was camped only one plane down from him at JC this year.... He was a really nice guy and so enthusiastic for flying.... We flew over to get fuel together. I feel so bad for his wife. Rest in peace.. makes me rethink flying at times