Pilot Killed In NJ Plane Crash Went To Space With William Shatner

Patch.Com ^ | November 12, 2021 | Jennifer Jean Miller

[PJ-Comix]

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — The New Jersey State Police named the two victims of the single-engine plane crash who died in Hampton Township's Kemah Lake section of Sussex County on Thursday afternoon.

Thomas P. Fischer, 54, of Hopatcong and Glen M. de Vries, 49 of New York, New York, died in the crash, Trooper Brandi Slota, a spokesperson from the State Police, said early Friday.

De Vries traveled along with William Shatner who played Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," in a "fully automated capsule constructed by Jeff Bezos' space tourism company, Blue Origin," in October, as well as Chris Boshuizen and Audrey Powers, for the second passenger flight in the capsule, after Bezos flew the first.

[PJ-Comix]

This just reinforces my well-founded prejudice AGAINST ever flying on private planes. Years ago, a friend of mine begged me to go up in an ultra-light plane with him despite it being a very windy day. I said definitely NO but he got real mad and accused me of being unreasonable. Really? Because the next day I read about a deadly private plane crash out of the same airport on the same day my friend wanted me to go on an ultra-light flight with them.

Then shortly afterwards, another friend of mine was killed flying his private plane near Cape Canaveral.

And now this which is why I refuse to fly on small planes (also helicopters).

[Rebelbase]

IIRC, the safety statistics of air travel in small planes are better than driving your car.

[DarrellZero]

I’ll fly on a private plane as long as the plane is a twin-engine and the pilot has an instrument rating. Very safe if both those things are true.

[Jewbacca]

Must have worn a red shirt.

[lilypad]

Indeed. The press loves to sensationalize plane crashes. There’s thousands of car crashes daily.

[Tax-chick]

How sad.

[nascarnation]

On a deaths per mile traveled basis, you are correct.
And in my view, that is the best comparison.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

My brother used to own a UL. Crashed it. Now flies helis. Has crashed one of those. Not a good track record.

[Jewbacca]

Twins are not any safer than a single.

Instrument rated is key, as is at least 1000 hours in a relatively recent period.

(I fly planes as part of my job. My primary plane has one engine. Admittedly a jet engine, but one engine.)

[BipolarBob]

I pulled dead bodies out of a small plane when on volunteer fire department. Not fun. I’ve rode in small planes and never did enjoy. Give me a 727 or larger any day of the week. but since TSA and now vaccine passports, I’ll never fly again.

[PJ-Comix]

IIRC, the safety statistics of air travel in small planes are better than driving your car.

JFK Jr. told me the same thing.

[nascarnation]

Was he referring to Mary Jo Kopechne?

[Gen.Blather]

Are you referring to a turbo prop? What’s your job?

[PLMerite]

"Must have worn a red shirt."

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Glen De Vries bucket list:

✓ Meet Captain Kirk.

✓ Travel to Outer Space.

✓ Die in a Plane Crash.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Impossible not to have the thought that possibly someone who hates the U.S. and private enterprise and patriots and those who were involved in the inspirational Shatner space flight did something to this pilot’s plane.

[TexasFreeper2009]

far far more dangerous driving to the airport. You hear about plane crashes because they are so rare.

[PJ-Comix]

More likely just ANOTHER private plane crash. I just keep thinking of Patsy Cline, Richie Valens, Buddy Holley, The Big Bopper, Walter Reuther, JFK Jr., Payne Stewart, and LOTS of others, including Captain Kirk’s crewmate.

[Telepathic Intruder]

"despite it being a very windy day"

This is in fact how most small plane accidents occur: negligence on the part of the pilot, especially new ones. They take off with too little speed, fly too low to the ground, turn to steeply, ect. just for the thrill factor.