CO-PILOT PLUNGES FROM SMALL PLANE 9,000 FEET OVER TEXAS; PILOT LANDS SAFELY

The Houston Chronicle ^ | 18 November 2002

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

HOUSTON (AP) - The co-pilot of a single-engine aircraft plunged from the plane as it made a steep turn 9,000 feet over the Houston area. The 45-year-old Houston man apparently jumped or fell from the plane Sunday afternoon near Prairie View, about 20 miles northwest of Houston, federal and local authorities told the Houston Chronicle for Monday editions. An instructor pilot, the only other person on board, was concentrating on a steep turning maneuver when he heard a thump and saw the co-pilot's feet and legs leaving the airplane, Waller County Sheriff's Lt. John Kremmer told the Chronicle.

Kremmer said a search for the pilot in the area's pastures, woods and lakes was expected to resume early Monday. Officials said the Cessna 152 had taken off 45 minutes earlier from David Wayne Hooks Airport in Spring. The pilot notified authorities about the incident before returning to the airport. "The instructor and the aircraft landed safely," said Roland Herwig, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Kremmer said the co-pilot - whose identity was being withheld pending notification of relatives - had a pilot's license but could not fly alone because of an unspecified medical condition.

The instructor pilot told investigators that both men were strapped in when the small trainer aircraft took off from the airport. "He just doesn't know at what point that changed," Kremmer said. Kremmer said there was no indication the man had a parachute.

[kjam22]

LOL.... you are displaying some superior HTML skills

[Mark Felton]

"I told him NOT to touch the Red Button!"

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[mhking]

"How do you make an ejector seat?"

[mhking]

[cajungirl]

Hahahha!!

[MissAmericanPie]

hahahaha

[Dallas]

LOL

[Dallas]

"Here, hold muh beeeeeerrrr.... while I get out and take a leak."

[RedBloodedAmerican]

That's the Apollo lunar module, right?

[DainBramage]

I don't know, it looks like a volvanic rock.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

unspecified medical condition

Ritalin or prozac? Place your bets!

[wingtip]

Why 9000 feet over Texas? In a 150? The copilot had to step out a while just to climb that high.

[agincourt1415]

Nearly impossible to get out of an Cessna 150 on the ground. It was a Suicide.

[Don Corleone]

DARWIN AWARD CANDIDATE?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Do they consider suicides?

[The Wizard]

call Lt.Columbo

[Diddle E. Squat]

FOB?

[SERE_DOC]

HAHO = High Altitude High Opening

HALO = High Altitude Low Opening

HANO = High Altitude No Opening (you make an impression on the ground)

[b4its2late]

Poor guy. Hopefully his family is coping.

Unfortunately for us, the same fate didn't occur to Mohammad Atta about 18 months ago when he was taking lessons.......