A "Good" plane crash

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

While no plane crash is good, at least this one everyone walked away.

Cirrus SR-22 with the parachute system had engine trouble shortly after take off

Plane makes emergency landing in north Harris County neighborhood | News - Home

Quote:

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas -
Two men on board a small plane had to make an emergency landing Tuesday morning on a residential street in north Harris County.

Precinct 4 deputy constables said the incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday on Laurel Bank Way and Laurel Arbor Drive.

The pilot on board was Matthew Christopher Julien, 30. His passenger and owner of the plane was Victor Glenn Sanchez, 56. They were headed from Bush Intercontinental to Austin for a business trip, when their engine started to fail.

It was so unreal, it’s not something you see every day,” said Darren Evans, who lives near the crash site.

The pilot decided to land the aircraft in an open field next to a cul-de-sac at Laurel Bank Way and it came to a stop on a sidewalk in front of a home. During the descent the passenger deployed a parachute, which officials say most likely saved their lives.

"I'm inclined to believe that the parachute is the main reason why they're still breathing right now,” said DPS Trooper Richard Standifer.
Sky 2 aerials showed the fixed-winged, single-engine Cirrus CR-22 aircraft stopped on the front lawn of a home in the cul-de-sac. The plane was upright and its body was intact, but the front landing gear was torn off. Standifer said it narrowly missed a light pole.

"I was surprised that he could actually land without hitting someone's house or hurting someone because it could have been a very bad accident," Evans said.

Authorities said the pilot and his passenger were being treated for minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Big safety ad for the Cirrus parachute system.....but the motor should not have quit. Bad gas, lack of adequate wrenching?

seanratpel · seanratpel's Garage

Always amazes me why everyone with a small plane doesn't have that system for a last resort. I remember reading that JFK jr. was thinking about one on his plane, a little too late unfortunately.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanratpel

Always amazes me why everyone with a small plane doesn't have that system for a last resort. I remember reading that JFK jr. was thinking about one on his plane, a little too late unfortunately.

They aren't that expensive and the parachute company makes a retrofit kit.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

JFK's crash was over water......yes, it was July but the North Atlantic is colder than a well digger's ass, it was night time and the plane floats like a VDO clock. Prolly would not done much beyond having nice looking corpsicles.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

He crashed in Long Island Sound. Water is around 70F in July.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

2 outta 3.......sue me. Like Generalissimo Franco.....he's still dead.

Seahawk · 07-09-2015, 08:02 AM

If I had a small plane I would try and retrofit a system like the Cirrus.

Great little plane, BTW.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

He crashed in Long Island Sound. Water is around 70F in July.

I never saw a final report on that one but as I remember, he was in a zero-visibility situation and probably hit the water when he thought he was up in the sky. Possibly upside-down when he thought he was right side-up. So a parachute would not have helped.

But I could sure see it saving people in a hell of a lot of other crashes.

seanratpel · seanratpel's Garage

Speeder, not sure where that came from never heard of the 0 visibility angle. He had just broke his foot, had a cast on, a lot of experts think that definitely had a play in the accident. With the water 70 degrees, less drowning on impact they very well could,ve survived especially since because of who he was half the 7th fleet and the entire e. coast CG was searching for them!

speeder · speeder's Garage

Just going from memory...maybe not zero visibility but it was dark and over water. As for "who he was", President Clinton decided at the time that his family had given more blood and service to this country than the average bear and he, (Clinton), took responsibility and any heat for the recovery mission. I agreed with him. But let's not PARF this, sorry if I did.

Eric Coffey · 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanratpel

Speeder, not sure where that came from never heard of the 0 visibility angle. He had just broke his foot, had a cast on, a lot of experts think that definitely had a play in the accident. With the water 70 degrees, less drowning on impact they very well could,ve survived especially since because of who he was half the 7th fleet and the entire e. coast CG was searching for them!

While still technically VFR, he was flying cross-country, at night, in near IMC towards the end (lots of haze/fog), without an instrument rating, and VERY little time in type. Most of that time was with a CFI in the right seat. Oh, and all of that with a bum foot/ankle, which had given him trouble with manipulating the rudder pedals on previous flights.

He should have never even considered that flight without his CFII tagging along (who offered to do so), especially with 2 other souls on board.

seanratpel · seanratpel's Garage

I remember it like yesterday. what a shame. makes you wonder what could've been had he deployed a chute etc...

Eric Coffey · 07-09-2015, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanratpel

I remember it like yesterday. what a shame. makes you wonder what could've been had he deployed a chute etc...

A BRS chute is certainly a worthwhile consideration, but it's useless in any CFIT type of accident.

seanratpel · seanratpel's Garage

Cfit??

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Yep. To quote "Top Gun", "...we regret to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid".

Regulations are not the same thing as personal minima / limits. Kennedy was in way, way over his head (both before and after hitting the water).

Seahawk · 07-09-2015, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

...but it's useless in any CFIT type of accident.

The only thing that is useful in CFIT is life insurance.

You can only tie the record in CFIT.

Deschodt · 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanratpel

Always amazes me why everyone with a small plane doesn't have that system for a last resort.

I think (I'm sure someone will correct me if wrong) that once you deploy it, the airframe is totaled. That might dissuade some folks from buying it, or even using it (or waiting too long to use it).... "Oh I can land this". But I agree, I'd have it - Cirrus come with it, Cessna can retrofit it... I asked a Cessna rep once it wasn't that expensive, given the price of aviation gizmos... I wanna say 5-10K but memory might be flawed... If they could make this less destructive, we'd have a pretty good solution on hand !

Brown747 · Brown747's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanratpel

Cfit??

Controlled Flight Into Terrain

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

It is designed to save the life of the passenger when the pilot has a heart attack and dies. As far as the Air frame being a total loss. The SR-22 has some damage to one of the front wheels but was in otherwise good condition.