The plane in that photo looks like it has wheel spats and fixed landing gear.
Posted on 04/13/2025 4:41:38 PM PDT by BenLurkin
I doubt the pilot was just a “private” pilot - no doubt a Commercial rated pilot if he was hired for the flight and probably IFR rated..
Doesn’t matter. 250 hour or whatever part time “commercial pilot” isn’t suitable to fly a hot bird like that. Too bad he took his family with him.
The plane in that photo looks like it has wheel spats and fixed landing gear.
ifr rated but not ifr competent in that hot bird. It is most evident he didn’t follow the missed approach procedures on his approach chart.
When I was still flying I oten flew down to minimums and on occasion could not see the approach lights. I then executed the missed approach procedure and asked ATC for vectors to another airport. I suspect he was flying a aircraft beyond his capabilites in ifr conditions
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When I knew I would be flying down to close minimums I always payed close attention to the missed approach procedure
This looks like another doctor (neuroscientist) with a plane he could afford, but he didn’t fly well.
The news story may have it wrong and it wasn't the initial approach that he missed but the final approach, but even then he should have been at altitude, not flying into terrain.
It is just a singular “missed approach”...more info. on the flight/plane:
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/81210_1596905918.jpg
https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/497772
NTSB briefing video:
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/WPR25MA128.aspx
Track:
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n635ta#39dd75e6
https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/2503/06204R3.PDF
You can see on the IFR chart that for a missed approach, he should have continued straight on vector 3, climbed to 3,200 feet, and flown directly to the hold 4 miles north. Instead he turned East and when attempting to circle back south to set up another approach, flew into terrain.
Is it? I'm no plane expert, but it looks fairly small. And not even a jet.
I learned something new. I didn't know there was an "initial approach" before a "final approach." I thought you just aimed for the landing strip and descended upon it. That unless you aborted for some reason, there was usually only one approach.
James Santoro was a star lacrosse player at Delbarton, NJ and at MIT
Out of the people listed as deceased in the accident, which one was the pilot? We can then do a FAA Airman Database search to determine if they were private, commercial, or ATP.
FWIW...
https://mu-2aircraft.com/index.php?action=notices
Check out the second one, from January, in case it should prove germane.
Dr. Michael Goff was an ‘experienced’ pilot.
The link says the plane was owned by Dr. Michael Groff.
I found a Michael Ira Groff who is a Commercial pilot who opted out of releasing his address.
I found a Michael Willem Groff who is a Commercial pilot, both fixed wing and helicopter, who lives in Massachusetts.
Doubtful this Michael Groff had a second job:
https://www.rochesterregional.org/hub/michael-groff-passing
...Rochester Regional Health is deeply saddened to confirm the death of Michael Groff, MD, Executive Medical Director of Neurosciences, who passed away as a result of a plane crash that occurred on Saturday, April 12, in Columbia County, New York...
**I’m no plane expert, but it looks fairly small. And not even a jet**
To be very brief, the MU2 was made to be among the fastest turboprops of its day. To do that, among other things, it was built with small wings.
That means it has to fly a faster maneuvering speed than other twin engine turboprops when in airport patterns.
I fear overconfidence was the primary problem in this tragedy.
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