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.

[blackdog]

I got tired of paying hangar fees and pouring the money down a hole. I have a farm large enough to easily squeeze in a turf field 3000'X 40', and now lighted. I farm and raise the kids. We have several based occupants that rent hangar space. We are (WS76).

I would highly recommend it. It's a lot of upkeep, but the quality of life is worth it. I have 130 acres in grain, about 80 in hay, and 50 in pasture. The runway only takes an actual 4 acres.

What I was paying in hangar rent comes close to the add-on to your mortgage for 50 acres. Although we did not mortgage land. If you do not want to be the farmer, you can lease your land to grain farmers for about $50.00 to $60.00 per acre.

[blackdog]

AOPA has a great book/information kit I used for the whole process. I would suggest reading it before long. In just the five years since I did it, four people in the area seeded down an alfalfa field with grass. They are not legit and cannot be charted. There needs to be public hearings, community relations, and low profile presence. No matter what anyone tells you, local and state law comes first. The feds come last. The legal resources of a local community are endless. If they do not want an airport, there will not be one. Once you are charted, there is not a darn thing they can do. If you are running out of an uncharted field your insurance will void your coverage and your hull coverage is nyet.

[johnny7]

I heard that the nazis had a airborne brigade that didn't use parachutes.

Sustained 100% casualties. Poor devils.

This guy must of had wings. A human drops like a watermelon... wave your arms and legs all you want.

SQUISH!

[Old Professer]

This guy's name wasn't Cooper, was it?

[Travis McGee]

HANO.

[Humidston]

LOL!!!

[blackdog]

One thing I have never understood. Why is it that when the secondary clamping latch is not clamped, the door pops open just as you get to best rate, and you cannot latch that sucker no matter how much you pull, tug, and do other things that make you dangerous in a traffic pattern? You are also right. You need to be on steroids to get that door more than an inch or two. Some people would crash their plane rather than say "oops, I've gotta land and actually do my checklist this time" They actually freak out over the door thing.

The only thing worse is the idiot who leaves on the pitot cover, and half way down the runway discovers an airspeed of zero. They then taxi back and get out with the engine running(nobody at the controls) and pull it.

I guess the instructor who was practicing those steep turns around a point will now be practicing steep turns around a spot.

[2Jedismom]

Ping! Thought this might be something you might find of interest or have some knowledge of.

[blackdog]

There was a New England regional airline flying turboprops. From Boston to Martha's Vineyard the pilot sent the copilot back to check out the door light. He jarred the door, it flung open and dropped fully to that point where the chain/handrail stops it. His foot got wrapped in the chain and he was flailing away dangling from the aft door at 180kts. In order to land, it would be death for him on the asphalt. The tower got the coast guard to meet over the beach and the pilot had to shake the guy loose in slow-flight. He did, he had a successful splashdown, and the plane then safely landed. The coastguard had to revive him but he lived to fly again. That would have been it for me.

[DCPatriot]

Another case of Clintoncide, IMO. ;^)

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

THAT would be scary. Oh man, he's lucky he lived.

[HairOfTheDog]

Holy mackeral! - Well, I have read some of the first replies, and some were right. In a coordinated turn G force will push you straight into your seat, and there should be no sideways sensation.

That said, if the turn was highly uncoordinated, perhaps the instructor was demonstrating slipping or skidding turns, I could see it. Although wind resistance to opening the door is somewhat high, the doors themselves in a 152 are very lightweight and flimsy, are difficult to close properly, and in a sudden slipping motion, could be pushed open. Most likely, because a 152 is so small, two man-sized people would feel pretty tightly packed in and naturally may lean against the door for breathing room. I know I felt pretty intimate with my instructors after having flown with them in a 152. I would lean against the door too unless I liked him!

To describe the person who fell as a co-pilot is not really accurate. There are no copilots in a 152. The man who fell was almost certainly a student, flying with an instructor for either his initial license, or getting subsequent training for a further license, not co-piloting the plane.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

OMG...that is GREAT! Tacos...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Heehee...

Yes, I can see where it would be appropiate in this situation!

:)

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

that snakes can fly...

Flying, mountain climbing, white-water rafting...As long as they remain *far* from my bedroom, more power to 'em!

;)

[cricket]

"Terminal Velocity, maybe."

No argument there :^)

[billorites]

Latest Link - Co Pilot's Plunge No Accident, Authorities Say

[harpseal]

Sounds like he had a great free fall but his landing was a tad messy.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[Travis McGee]

I wonder if he was eyes open awake all the way to impact.

[harpseal]

My gfuess is yes but we can't ask him to verify. Well, we can ask I just do not want to hold my breath waiting for an answer.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown