Triangle of death: Philanthropist island crash fourth this year

Boston Herald ^ | December 3, 2005 | Casey Ross

[billorites]

Two miles and 200 feet msl is decision height on the ILS approach into Nantucket.

There's no more mystery here than in Junior's case.

Single pilot IFR is a fool's game and, sooner or later, it bites you.

[ClearCase_guy]

Are they planning a Ricardo Montalban show "Philanthropist island"?

[Tax-chick]

Four philanthropists in one year? That's pretty spooky!

[sgtbono2002]

The new Devil's Traingle with the Kennedy compound at its apex.

[Tax-chick]

Twilight Zone music ...

I was thinking it could be a plot by the estate trustees!

[DTogo]

I there were an offshore wind farm in operation nearby with FAA lighting these accidents could be reduced.

[japaneseghost]

"A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said Baker, who had nearly 40 years experience as a pilot, was flying at 200 feet about 2miles from the airport when contact with his airplane was lost. There were no severe weather problems reported in the area and Baker never indicated he was in distress."

I'd bet heart attack, stroke or seizure.

[billorites]

I bet he flew into the water in perfect control.

It's called controlled flight into terrain and it happens all the time.

Only happens to you once, though.

[pabianice]

Two miles and 200 feet msl is decision height on the ILS approach into Nantucket. There's no more mystery here than in Junior's case. Single pilot IFR is a fool's game and, sooner or later, it bites you.

No. No ILS has its decision height two miles from the runway. And single pilot IFR is standard for many of us. Junior bought it by flying into IFR at night in a complex single.

[jwpjr]

re: Junior bought it by flying into IFR at night in a complex single.

If memory serves me correctly Junior wasn't instrument rated, an even more common situation for low time, VFR pilots.

[billorites]

So he descended through the glide slope. Two miles from the threshold, perhaps not. Two miles from the tower, airport reference point, who knows.

My point is that accidents aren't happening at ACK to aircraft in crew environments.

Single pilot IFR is commonplace and is dangerous. Single pilots easily become over tasked and performance deteriotes very quickly. CFIT is not just a single pilot problem, but single pilots are at markedly higher risk of flying into the ground.

The advent of GPS and EFIS in the single pilot environment, in my opinion, has worsened the situation by increasing, not decreasing, pilot workload.

[Smokin' Joe]

Yep, there is some big money involved there. Cui bono?

[null and void]

*sigh* OK. I'll be the first to say it.

He was done in by terrorists targeting rich philanthropists.

They are dazzling these pilots with lasers on final approach.

Doesn't anyone on this thread have tinfoil????

[Kimmers]

"The new Devil's Traingle with the Kennedy compound at its apex."

Now, that would make sense....

[Tax-chick]

I expect most of these incidents are simply pilot error, but this latest one seems kind of weird. I expect his estate will be interesting. (Sorry, professional curiousity ... not our business of course!)

[Amish with an attitude]

I also heard that junior logged more than 100 hrs prior to his private check ride.

[albee]

"Four philanthropists in one year? That's pretty spooky!"

Spooky enough to make me stop any further donations..... especially to the Harvard Business School!

[Smokin' Joe]

I expect most of these incidents are simply pilot error,

You are likely to be correct.

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

[Tax-chick]

This guy, with his 40 years flight experience and good weather, could be a suicide. Or just got careless, as even the most experienced pilots do.