----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
I've just returned from surveying the damage at Sky Manor where a 35-year old airline pilot did his part for recycling by turning a nice rented Travel Air into the kind of material that is sold by weight. It was 1PM, the restaurant was crowded with patrons, and the wind was blowing at least 20, gusting to 35. He bounced around down final on his first approach and did a wobbly go around. The second time he apparently decided to slow down some more. He got into our notorious wind shear at the threshold, decided on another go around, nosed up around 50 feet into the air, stalled, started a spin, and deposited himself upside-down 300 feet down the runway. Right in front of the picture windows at the restaurant. Pretty short-field landing for a light twin :-) Almost took out the PAPI lights. The right prop dug three divots in the runway before the whole nacelle collapsed in to block the door. The crank broke, and off came the prop. The left prop churned up the infield. The vertical tail plowed a furrow suitable for corn planting, then came off. Miraculously, no fire ensued. The locals managed to pry the pilot, his wife, and the family dog out with not much more than cuts and bruises. Three of the few who have ever survived a low-level stall-spin accident. About the only thing NOT wrinkled, including the engines, is the good old Bonanza main gear which the plane now once again sits upon. There is almost no deformity in the crew cabin and the seats are intact. Solid airplane that saved a couple of lives while giving up its own. I bet that, in retrospect, he wishes he had flown 15 minutes to Allentown where they have big, wide, runways going in both directions. Of course his relatives who were awaiting his arrival would have had to inconvenience themselves, and would not had nearly as interesting a show... Greg ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
