Posted on 10/13/2006 10:37:22 AM PDT by ContemptofCourt
NEW YORK -- Cory Lidle's beneficiaries could lose out on a $1.5 million payout from baseball's benefit plan if it's determined that he was piloting his plane when it crashed into a Manhattan high-rise condominium.
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The plan calls for a $450,000 life insurance benefit and has an accidental death benefit of $1.05 million. However, the plan -- which applies to all big leaguers -- contains an exclusion for "any incident related to travel in an aircraft ... while acting in any capacity other than as a passenger."
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In addition, Lidle's wife is entitled to a widow's benefit under baseball's plan.
Lidle had nine years, 100 days of major league service -- 72 days shy of being fully vested. Because of that, his wife would be entitled to about $165,000 to $170,000 annually, which is 95 percent of the maximum, an amount indexed for inflation. There is an additional dependent benefit.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
2. MLB has a nice widow's benefit plan...I guess I should have married a baseball player.
Exactly how do you verify who was flying in such a case?
I think I heard that the bodies were burnt, but still strapped into the seats.
The way they determine who was flying, is check for who has broken thumbs. The one with broken thumbs had his hands on the controls.
Interesting. I'm kind of surprised someone could possibly be considered a "passenger" under these circumstances. If someone: 1) owns the aircraft in question, 2) is a licensed pilot, and 3) is flying with a certified instructor on board, then he's hardly a "passenger" in any real sense of the word.
Failing any other evidence, I think it will boil down to whomever was in the left seat.
I predict a "litigation situation"
Why? Are you planning to "off" your spouse? ;^)
When flying with an instructor, the instructor is the "pilot in command". If there is a violation of a rule, the instructor gets the ticket.
Almost always, the first time something unusual happens, the instructor says "I've got it", takes the controls, and the "student" takes his hands and feet off the controls.
That is explained by the instructor as part of the preflight.
If I were a passenger and saw that the pilot was about to hit a building I'd probably have broken thumbs.
I think I heard that the bodies were burnt, but still strapped into the seats.""
I heard one report that said Cory's body was found on the sidewalk at ground level. If still in the seat, it all came out together. I agree with the comment about the broken thumbs, tho. Same thing happens to race car drivers in really bad crashes. Think Shirley Muldowney , driving a top fuel dragster, who crashed some years ago.
Cory Lidle was a millionaire. His wife will be in much better position to support herself and their children than most widows would be, with or without benefits from MLB.
Forensics. I would think it would be easy.
They also look for broken legs, because pilots control rudders with both feet. Speculation has it that Lidle, a low time pilot in a high performance Cirrus, was PIC (pilot in command). He had with him his flight instructor
He was legal to fly where he was, per Federal Air Regulations (FARs). The raging debate now is whether this airspace should have more restrictions, but powerful GA lobbying groups are doing all they can to keep the VFR corridor over the East River open to pleasure craft.
The instructor is not necessarily the PIC.
That has nothing to do with it.
In your first flight as a student, you are in the left seat. All your instruction is received while you are in the left seat.
Instructors always fly the right seat.
Why would the family of someone who was making multiple millions of dollars a year have to worry about a pension benefit?
The Thurman Munson clause?
Hire a highly compensated forensic engineer with a lengthy resume who will support your version of events. Of course, the other side will as well. Then you have a "Battle of the Experts".
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