OLD AGE AND TREACHERY WILL OVERCOME YOUTH AND SKILL.
And on the eighth day God said, "Okay, Murphy, you're in charge!"
Anonymous comments will not be posted.
Monday, January 31, 2022
Tragedy
Work takes me by obscure places off the beaten path.
Today was one. There is a nice memorial
to the 1/27/2001 airplane crash that took ten lives near Byers, CO.
I'm reminded of the DC-3 crash that killed the entire Evansville Indiana "Aces" basketball team in '77. The pilot found the aircraft uncontrollable just after takeoff because he had forgotten to remove a gust lock. Or the crash that was the subject of the movie "We Are Marshall". Walking sites like those is sobering. https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/2020/12/13/the-night-it-rained-tears-1977-university-of-evansville-basketball-plane-crash/
GB Brings to mind a Frontier DC-3 I personally saw crash and burn at the old Denver Stapelton airport 12/21/1967. At the time I was a bag smasher for TWA back in college after Army service. The picture published in the Rocky Mountain News clearly showed the elevator gust locks still in place. A cargo only flight, freight and mail was loaded without cargo sacks (seats still in place). They might have been able to gain control with the trim but got a high angle and cargo slid to the rear.
Another preventable Colorado crash was a Martin 4-0-4 carrying Wichita State football players 10/21/70. A piston powered aircraft, the refueler in Denver loaded Jet A! Then the pilot attempted to fly over Loveland Pass (where they crashed some 200' below the crest). Along the Front Range there are passes you fly in only one direction and many an experienced pilot has died forgetting that. I personally knew a United pilot in his personal AT-6 that ignored that and died.
Just an addition. You never approach a mountain pass at 90°; only at an angle so you have room to turn if needed should you hit a downdraft or updraft. Once I was in a C-180 70 mph indicated, 40° flaps, and idle throttle climbing 2,000' per minute Eastbound over Corona Pass. Clearing the pass, still at the same settings, descended at 4,000'per minute for nearly twelve miles.
7 comments:
May they rest in peace.
Old NFO
Amen!
Moving.
RIP.
LSP
Aftermath the surrounding farm communities came together to help. Much of the memorial is the work of locals.
I'm reminded of the DC-3 crash that killed the entire Evansville Indiana "Aces" basketball team in '77. The pilot found the aircraft uncontrollable just after takeoff because he had forgotten to remove a gust lock.
Or the crash that was the subject of the movie "We Are Marshall".
Walking sites like those is sobering.
https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/2020/12/13/the-night-it-rained-tears-1977-university-of-evansville-basketball-plane-crash/
GB
Brings to mind a Frontier DC-3 I personally saw crash and burn at the old Denver Stapelton airport 12/21/1967. At the time I was a bag smasher for TWA back in college after Army service. The picture published in the Rocky Mountain News clearly showed the elevator gust locks still in place. A cargo only flight, freight and mail was loaded without cargo sacks (seats still in place). They might have been able to gain control with the trim but got a high angle and cargo slid to the rear.
Another preventable Colorado crash was a Martin 4-0-4 carrying Wichita State football players 10/21/70. A piston powered aircraft, the refueler in Denver loaded Jet A! Then the pilot attempted to fly over Loveland Pass (where they crashed some 200' below the crest). Along the Front Range there are passes you fly in only one direction and many an experienced pilot has died forgetting that. I personally knew a United pilot in his personal AT-6 that ignored that and died.
Just an addition. You never approach a mountain pass at 90°; only at an angle so you have room to turn if needed should you hit a downdraft or updraft. Once I was in a C-180 70 mph indicated, 40° flaps, and idle throttle climbing 2,000' per minute Eastbound over Corona Pass. Clearing the pass, still at the same settings, descended at 4,000'per minute for nearly twelve miles.
Coffeypot said...
I remember that story. Sad and tough to remember those young men.
February 1, 2022 at 8:27 AM
Post a Comment