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Triangle of death: Philanthropist island crash fourth this year
Boston Herald ^ | December 3, 2005 | Casey Ross

Posted on 12/03/2005 5:00:37 AM PST by billorites

A prominent New York philanthropist whose family built the Harvard School of Business is presumed dead in frigid waters off Nantucket after his private plane disappeared from radar and was not found during a frantic 19-hour search, authorities said.

George Baker III, 66, was flying to meet his wife at their Nantucket home Thursday evening when air traffic controllers lost contact with his plane about 2 1/2 miles from the island’s landing strip.

Baker is the latest victim of several mysterious crashes in and around Cape Cod and the Islands in recent years. Three other small planes have crashed in the region this year alone.

U.S. Coast Guard officials called off their search for Baker about 1:10 p.m. yesterday after finding no sign of him or his plane.

Baker “was a remarkable man and this is a great tragedy,” said Donella Rapier, vice president of alumni affairs and development for Harvard University. “He was very generous with his time and his advice. This is very sad news.”

Nantucket police found a First Aid kit, a bottle of aviation lubricant and a couple pieces of plastic near Nobadeer Beach, but no other debris was immediately discovered. Police planned to resume their search today.

Baker, whose great-grandfather donated $5 million to help build the Harvard School of Business in 1924, was retired from a New York investment firm he co-founded and was working as senior trustee for the George F. Baker Trust.

Baker’s family was gathered at their Nantucket home yesterday while Coast Guard officials continued a fruitless search off the island’s southern coast. A man who identified himself as Baker’s son said the family did not wish to comment.

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.

News of Baker’s apparent death yesterday devastated friends and academic associates at Harvard University, where a library and the the graduate school of business administration are named after his great-grandfather, who founded the First National Bank of New York that would become a cornerstone of Citibank.

“He was a very generous donor and a good friend of the business school and of the last three deans,” Harvard spokesman Jim Aisner said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: wealthpenalty
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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.

1 posted on 12/03/2005 5:00:38 AM PST by billorites
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To: billorites

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


2 posted on 12/03/2005 5:09:51 AM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: billorites

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


3 posted on 12/03/2005 5:17:37 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: Tax-chick

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


4 posted on 12/03/2005 5:21:19 AM PST by sgtbono2002
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To: sgtbono2002

Twilight Zone music ...

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


5 posted on 12/03/2005 5:24:44 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: billorites

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


6 posted on 12/03/2005 5:41:00 AM PST by DTogo (Merry CHRISTmas, and a healthy & happy New Year!)
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To: billorites
"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.

7 posted on 12/03/2005 5:44:21 AM PST by japaneseghost (()
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To: japaneseghost
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.

8 posted on 12/03/2005 6:45:25 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: 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.

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.

9 posted on 12/03/2005 6:53:43 AM PST by pabianice (I guess)
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To: pabianice

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.


10 posted on 12/03/2005 7:34:08 AM PST by jwpjr
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To: pabianice
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.

11 posted on 12/03/2005 7:35:59 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: Tax-chick

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


12 posted on 12/03/2005 7:38:56 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: billorites
*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????
13 posted on 12/03/2005 7:40:46 AM PST by null and void (Peace on Earth. Death to the Terrorists...)
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To: sgtbono2002

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

Now, that would make sense....


14 posted on 12/03/2005 7:41:56 AM PST by Kimmers
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To: Smokin' Joe

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!)


15 posted on 12/03/2005 7:45:21 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: jwpjr

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


16 posted on 12/03/2005 7:46:31 AM PST by Amish with an attitude (An armed society is a polite society)
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To: Tax-chick
"Four philanthropists in one year? That's pretty spooky!"

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

17 posted on 12/03/2005 8:22:35 AM PST by albee ("Those that bite the hand that feeds them will lick the boot that kicks them!" - Eric Hoffer)
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To: Tax-chick
I expect most of these incidents are simply pilot error,

You are likely to be correct.

18 posted on 12/03/2005 8:23:00 AM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: albee

LOL!


19 posted on 12/03/2005 8:23:01 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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To: Smokin' Joe

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.


20 posted on 12/03/2005 8:24:17 AM PST by Tax-chick ("You don't HAVE to be a fat pervert to speak out about eating too much and lack of morals." ~ LG)
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