Posted on 01/05/2018 8:49:31 PM PST by ransomnote
A family flight to Key West ended in tragedy Sunday when the small plane crashed and killed all five people on board. Among those was the pilot, John Shannon, a prominent Florida Lawyer.
Shannon, 70, was a former marine who owned an ran an independent law firm in Lakeland, Florida, for 36 years, WTVT reported. The law firm specialized in serious injury, death and insurance claims, according to its website.
Shannon was described as an “accomplished pilot” and was the president of the Lakeland Republican Club. He was also actively involved with the Citric Center Kiwanis Club and ran for the House of Representatives in 2014.
Also killed in the crash were Shannon’s two daughters, Olivia and Victoria, Shannon’s son in law, Peter Worthington Jr. and family friend Krista Clayton. The group was headed to Key West Sunday for a day trip.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.com ...
Cessna 340? I have some time in 340’s. Nice useful airplane, but if these folks were normal sized people, there is almost no chance this plane was not over gross, even with minimal fuel on board. Maybe not overweight, but doubtful. In a fogbound takeoff, you wouldn’t need an engine failure to have an immediate and serious problem, you’d just need an engine to “hiccup.”
My dad flew a couple of 340s and I wrenched on some. They had about 2k# useful load. Five 200 lb bodies and 150 gal fuel would be getting up there. Supposed to have been a day trip, so maybe the luggage was minimal.
But the temptation to climb up out of the fog pronto, with the possibility of the weight and balance too far aft (folks in those type of seating like to face forward, leaving the aft facing seats filled last.)
I wouldn’t be surprised if he simply pulled the yoke back too much too soon, in trying to leap out of the fog, and just spun it in.
Lawyers and doctors should never operate aircraft.
**I am a lawyer and I must admit that there is a culture of arrogance among lawyers (and doctors) which often plays into these accidents. When it takes other family members its especially tragic.**
Yes, the confidence that comes from success, can become overconfidence if one isn’t careful.
I dont what engines he had on it, apparently some had more powerful ones than the originals, and some were retrofitted with turbine engines.
Good info. Thank you.
I read on the internet (therefore not verified) that the two crashes in Mexico involved men and families associated with the Clinton Foundation in some way.
Skeptical until verified.
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