Crash at my airport...

I can't believe I almost saw this one happen. I left the airport 30 minutes before this accident. See it here:
Corrected URL

[JC1188]

aw man that sucks, sorry to hear that

Do you take lessons out of that airport? what type of airplane? 152, 172?

[chrisesp]

Sad news!

[FLflyer]

Here's proof why when you have an engine failure after takeoff, you should NOT try to turn back to the airport, but rather look ahead for somewhere to put 'er down.
"Witnesses said the plane's engine stalled shortly after take off, then restarted, then stalled again. The plan was trying to turn and return to the airport when it began its nose-dive into the roof."

I fly out of FXE myself, and I know that from Runway 8 your options are limited if your engine should fail shortly after takeoff and you need to get down quick. (Large commercial area, not much open space) I can hear my instructor repeating to me again and again, "If your engine fails shortly after takeoff, don't try to turn back to the airport, or else you'll become a smoking hole."

[757]

Wow thats terrible. I had no idea that happened and I just flew done there about a hour ago

[rv7]

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Do you take lessons out of that airport? what type of airplane? 152, 172?

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If you are asking what kind of plane crashed it was an Archer, but if you are asking what kind of plane he trains in...I couldn't tell you. The one person in critical condition is lucky to be alive, I'm guessing that if they hadn't hit the roof and hit solid ground instead that he too would have been killed. It appears from the pictures that the roof of the buliding probably slowed the plane down by shearing the wings off and only the fuselgae went into the building. Very, very sad. I hope that the guy in the hospital will be ok, he has enough to deal with as it is.

[ClipperPilot]

So, my grandmother calls me hysterical asking me if i'm o.k. and if i knew the guy, everytime an accident or something small happens, i get the call. Well didnt you know, since i fly i automatically know every other pilot on a first name basis. Seriously though, i hope the survivor makes it out o.k.

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aw man that sucks, sorry to hear that

Do you take lessons out of that airport? what type of airplane? 152, 172?

[/ QUOTE ]

Positive, I fly out of FXE in a 172.

This is sad news but on the happy side I never saw so many pilots from my city on JetCareers. Is this enough for a meet?

[rv7]

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Positive, I fly out of FXE in a 172.

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Brian, since you are a student pilot, I think, and you should learn this..you should have typed, "Affirmative, ........" Just thought I'd help you out. If you ever make it up to the Tampa area on a cross country or something let me know ahead of time, perhaps we'll meet up.

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Positive, I fly out of FXE in a 172.

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Brian, since you are a student pilot, I think, and you should learn this..you should have typed, "Affirmative, ........" Just thought I'd help you out. If you ever make it up to the Tampa area on a cross country or something let me know ahead of time, perhaps we'll meet up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the advice. I'll let ya know when I go up there.

[ClipperPilot]

Brian, have you considered Miami Dade community college, they have an aviation program as well, i plan on looking into it a little more though.

[Silverhawk]

That is very sad..my thoughts and prayer's are with the families.

That's a good point though.. the first thing I caught in the article was the fact he tried to turn back to the airport... I think from day one it's been engrained in my head not to even try if you loose an engine like that... your better off just finding someplace to set her down.

[C150J]

Silverhawk (and anyone else, for that matter) -

I encourage you to get a couple hours dual and really test the "turn around limits" of your aircraft, as well as bunting exercises (getting the plane back on the runway after engine failure if you have enough length - my term, not sure if there's a more correct phrase). You'd be amazed at the proper sight-picture to get a GA plane back on the runway.

Although turning around is generally a no-no, it's good to actually see the altitude loss first hand, and in some conditions (with enough altitude), see that it is actually possible...

J.

[cime_sp]

My rule, and what I teach to my students has always been 800' AGL. This is where they should be starting their crosswind turn if they were to stay in the pattern. If below that altitude land straight ahead. At that and above you should have time for the "Oh crap what just happened", lower the nose, turn into the wind (usually), and glide back to the airport downwind.

[Tim06]

When I was practicing simulated engine failures, a standard rate turn would loose about 1000ft/min, at 60kts(glide speed) in a C152.

[ready2fly]

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800' AGL. This is where they should be starting their crosswind turn if they were to stay in the pattern.

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HA! If only!

At TPF off of RWY 21 (the Rwy of greatest use right now), if you waited to turn crosswind until 800', you'd not only be IN MacDill AFB's airspace, you'd be OVER the base itself.

We turn Crosswind somewhere between 300-400' out of necessity.

But, as for your reasoning - solid as a rock.

My instructor asked me last night as we turned crosswind, what I would do if the engine quit right then. We were at about 600' above the Bay.

I told him that I'd aim for RWY 35, to which he replied "good".

When doing pattern work, I've always been trained to fly a tight pattern "just in case."

What's the "norm"?

[Silverhawk]

C150J...

That's one thing I always wanted to to try and play with more sometime....

Looking at performance charts and glide ratio's etc. in theory am I correct in assuming you can say if I am at ___ feet AGL and I know I can glide ___ feet etc... if done right. So if I have an engine out after departing above a certain altitude I can say it would be a legitimate option.

I guess in terms of training most often you err to the side of safety or stick to particular style of your instructor / school.. but I'd agree though eventually you'll find that line between what you were taught and what you can do based on skill and experience. I know if I climbed out and lost an engine at say TPA... no doubt I'm gonna try to get that plane back on the runway as opposed to somewhere else...

[C150J]

I should also note that, along with altitude, wind conditions can make or break you. Try a 180 degree power off landing in a head wind, and watch the deceleration!

Blue Skies!
J.

[Alchemy]

Two guys I knew also crashed in florida a few days ago....one was an ex student at our school who earned his private with us. The other was the owner of a dozen or so aircraft and ran his own flight school.

They were flying an Aztec which crashed near Pensacola. Apprantly the tail fell off.....there was thunderstorm activity in the area. I had met the flight school owner just a few weeks ago, he was a nice guy. Sad. RIP.

[chrisesp]

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Brian, have you considered Miami Dade community college, they have an aviation program as well, i plan on looking into it a little more though.

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I remember taking a summer class there on aviation, I must have been like 6 or 7! Or wait maybe it was broward community college, oh well that was to long ago!

Yeah I've considered on going to the broward community college's aviation program. Not too sure about it though. And I too have taken one of those aviation summer classes. Pretty fun. The problem down here is that when you takeoff it is hard to land at anywhere besides airport. We have houses and water everywhere. It is easier to land in a like then on dry land.

[GregCollins2]

It's always a strange feeling when you hear about a crash and realize you knew the person somehow. There was a nice fellow at Aviator's when I was there that I had a conversation with on the day of his first multiengine check ride. He passed his ride and went out to celebrate that evening, then on the way back to his apartment he had a fatal accident on his motorcycle.