Student Pilot Crashes Into N.M. Jail (I think he needs more practice)

Yahoo! News - AP ^ | 1.23.04

[mhking]

FARMINGTON, N.M. - A student pilot practicing takeoffs and landings in a small plane crashed through the roof of a police station, forcing the evacuation of 10 inmates.

The pilot, a student with Mesa Airlines' pilot development program, suffered head and facial injuries but was conscious when he was taken to a hospital Thursday night, said Fire Marshal Herb Veazey. No one inside the building was injured.

The pilot appeared to be preparing to land on a runway about 400 yards from the Farmington Police Department, Police Lt. Doug Kennedy said.

"I was pulling into the parking lot when I saw the plane veer straight up and come into the north end of the building," Sgt. Darin Hardy said.

The plane crashed into an area of the station that houses detectives. Two detectives were able to leave the building without injury. Ten adult inmates in nearby holding cells were transferred to a county jail.

The crash happened around 7:15 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites). The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza apparently lost power before the crash.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[ozzymandus]

Hey, that's why he was taking lessons, right?

[sirshackleton]

He's doing fine...after all, a good landing is a landing you can walk away from....a GREAT landing is a landing you can walk away from AND the plane is still airworthy. He'll get the hang of it ;)

And on a more serious note, it's good to hear that everyone pretty much escaped with nothing more than a few scratches. I went to commercial flight school for a little bit, and it's a tougher than some people think to fly a plane.

[.cnI redruM]

At least he landed in a convenient location. They won't even have to transport him further than 50 feet.

[wiseone]

I was reading some Apple history:
Apple co founder Woz,after only 50 hours practise ,crashed and hurt him self bad 20 years ago.

Then there is JFK Jr. I don't know if they have a different policy for rich pilots,but John Denver and rest of them won Darwin awards!

[ErnBatavia]

The pilot, a student with Mesa Airlines' pilot development program,

I'm going to make the wild assumption that he's now a "former student" with Mesa Airlines' pilot development program...

[billorites]

Reminds me of a couple of dogs I saw in the yard.

[dutchess]

Oh ouch...you had to go and do that. I'm taking my second flight lesson tomorrow. YIKES!

[lilylangtree]

Hey kid, are your lessons "money-back guaranteed"? If so request your money back.

[Joe Boucher]

I live just a few miles south of Voro Beach where Mr. Kennedy took his lessons. I have spoken to folks that either trained there or were trainers. It seems that evan when Mr. Kennedy was taking a lesson in flight training, he was always distracted by phone calls coming in in the middle of flying. He would say take the controls for a minute, I have to take this.
An ambivalant attitude if you will.
Flying is no light matter. I am a pilot I should know.

[per loin]

Just remember not to fully stall until you're inches above the runway. Those ones 400 yards out are tough on buildings.

[dutchess]

LOL..thanks....when the word "stall" comes up I panic. Think I have a bunch of lessons before that one... (atleast hope so :)

[LPStar]

His instructors should have refused to fly with him after that happened.

[petertare]

NTSB BULLETIN

CAUSE OF ACCIDENT

Student pilot found to have been distracted from primary flying duties whlie practicing public announcements proclaiming "ALLAH is good, it is allah will".