Posted on 06/19/2025 7:56:12 AM PDT by DFG
The pilot was acting stupidly—probably helped by fatigue and lack of sleep.
Other planes landed just fine. Shapiro blew it.
“Shapiro was flying below the minimum crossing altitude as he approached the airport. Roughly two miles away from the airport, he struck power transmission lines about 95 feet above the ground, slicing the tail of his plane and damaging the stabilizers.”
I know nothing about air traffic control, so maybe I don’t understand some things. But I was shocked to learn that there are no air traffic control people in that airport in the middle of the night. Which makes me wonder, why are airplanes apparently allowed to land at an unstaffed airfield.
Considering it was a foggy night, there were no air traffic control people at that airport, the runway lights were not working, add it all up, and we see a tragic accident.
It also looks like the ILS wasn’t working, as a glide slope warning would have sounded. Also means no landing should have been atemptedsue to conditions.
Tragic Accident,
Two Miles Short at A Small field.
“Only 10% of airports actually have air traffic control …
Feb 26, 2025 · Of the 5,100 public airports across the country, only about 10% have towers staffed by people who direct the flow of traffic.”
DEI Pilot?
I never heard of the musician or his band, but I’m sorry he was killed.
True, and of those, many switch to unmanned operations at night and over the weekend.
“Which makes me wonder, why are airplanes apparently allowed to land at an unstaffed airfield.”
I have landed at many installed airports.
I have landed at many unstaffed airports.
Perhaps someone forget to reset his altimeter prior to approach.
Lots of holes in that Swiss cheese, but the bottom line is this hot shot pilot was attempting to land below weather miniums and found out why there are minimums.
ILS isn't the only option, although the reports about this crash haven't been clear about whether this specific Cessna 550 Citation was fitted with a GPS unit programmed for landings.
https://simpleflying.com/gps-guided-approaches-and-landings/
ILS was down and there was a NOTAM to that effect. He was desperately trying to key the runway lights ( keying the mike on airport frequency triggers the runway lights, not that he could have seen them in the soup), and he was attempting a landing below weather minimums for that aircraft configuration and he knew it. Get there itis. he FAFOed.
Thanks for info. I did not realize there are many unstaffed airports.
..The Pilot had a terminal case of “get thereitits”. We were informed that he took all of those risks because he had parked his car at that airport.
Never allow your/a music producer to be your (single) pilot.
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