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  #1  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:25 PM
David-aviator David-aviator is offline
 
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Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
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Default Reflections on Dying in an Aircraft Accident

Statistically, eventually, everyone's number is up flying an airplane.

I don't know what those statistics are but be it one or two life times, the events of this week end sure are food for thought. (an air show T-28 was also lost today - the NTSB fatalities for the month of August came in at 79, which is a typical month)

I flew 2.6 hours today. In one instant, the day nearly ended in a fire ball when a Bonanza appeared out of no where at 11 oclock, level, in a right turn. I pushed the stick forward and missed him by several hundred feet. I don't think he saw me as his angle of bank never changed as he went by. We fly with a very thin margin and the older you get, the more one wonders just how long luck will hold up.

This evening I am thinking about hanging it up and spending more time with my wife and taking care of the garden. To end a flying career in a ball of flame or auguring straight in with body parts flying in very direction is not the way I want to check out.

Maybe things will look better in a couple days, I've been through these funks before.
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  #2  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:30 PM
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Geico266 Geico266 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator View Post
To end a flying career in a ball of flame or auguring straight in with body parts flying in very direction is not the way I want to check out.
I would rather be a fireball in the sky than living in a hospice hotel with a diaper on.



.
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Last edited by Geico266 : 09-17-2011 at 09:00 PM.
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  #3  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:38 PM
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roadrunner20 roadrunner20 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geico266 View Post
I would rather be a fireball in the sky than living in a hospice hotel with a diaper on.
Well said. I think
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  #4  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:42 PM
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mv031161 mv031161 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geico266 View Post
I would rather be a fireball in the sky than living in a hospice hotel with a diaper on.
I agree with this statement! Let me go doing what I like! I understand funks! Im in one right now too! But we ust mOve forward! Enjoy life as it was the last day in earth! Smile! Laugh, do no harm and make sure you leave a good impression and make a difference!
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  #5  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:43 PM
flynwest flynwest is offline
 
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Default I'll take the fire ball

I watched my dad die of alzhiemers. Give me the fire ball. Go out doing what you love.
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  #6  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:45 PM
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Hens07 Hens07 is offline
 
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Location: Lancaster, PA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator View Post
I flew 2.6 hours today. In one instant, the day nearly ended in a fire ball when a Bonanza appeared out of no where at 11 oclock, level, in a right turn. I pushed the stick forward and missed him by several hundred feet. I don't think he saw me as his angle of bank never changed as he went by. We fly with a very thin margin and the older you get, the more one wonders just how long luck will hold up.
I've had similar incidents like this occur to me and yes... it scares the **** out of you! HOWEVER... these are the things that the FAA are trying to eliminate through the use of technology. Hopefully when ADS-B and/or similar type technologies become standard in ALL aircraft, these close calls will become less frequent :-)
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  #7  
Old 09-17-2011, 08:47 PM
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Geico266 Geico266 is offline
 
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Originally Posted by flynwest View Post
I watched my dad die of alzhiemers. Give me the fire ball. Go out doing what you love.
"All of us will die, very few of us will have lived."

I am certainly not saying live dangerously or recklessly, but live life to the fullest and don't worry about "what if's".

Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator View Post
Statistically, eventually, everyone's number is up flying an airplane.
Dave, not sure I agree with you on the statisical part, but I understand your feeling about close calls. It spooks you for a while then you have to make a decision about flying. If it bothers you take a break, nothing wrong with that. They call it "standing down" in the military. It means take time to re-assess the proceedures, attitudes, training, equipment, ect. Maybe you should stand down for a while. A good pilot knows when it is time.
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Last edited by Geico266 : 09-18-2011 at 07:13 AM.
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  #8  
Old 09-17-2011, 09:01 PM
aerhed aerhed is offline
 
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No man, don't do it. Your new attitude will help make you safer (statistically). Anyway its not you, its those #%& Bonanza drivers. They're always out to get you. I had one land between my legs @ 100 feet on takeoff.
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  #9  
Old 09-17-2011, 09:01 PM
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L.Adamson L.Adamson is offline
 
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I thought my time was up...........in that split second before impact with a leaping deer at 65 mph on my motorcycle last year. In the following few seconds, which seemed much longer, my only thoughts were of deceleration. When would the world stop tumbling around? I had been immediately ejected from the cycle onto the highway. Yet, there was no sense of pain. Just a sense of time slowing down. I wasn't even thinking of the consequences. Just wondering when it would stop! Yet, 50 yards of highway (according to the Highway patrol), is only a few seconds at best.
I could swear, it was ten times that long.

In the end, I had broken bones all over my left side. Severe road rash everywhere..........as I wasn't wearing leathers, but did have a full face helmet on.

These day's, I'm just not so afraid of dying anymore. There are much worse ways of dying, than quickly in an airplane. If it isn't quick, then it's no different than a possible auto accident, etc. Of course, I'd still like to avoid tragedy.........as much as possible.

L.Adamson
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  #10  
Old 09-17-2011, 09:05 PM
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rocketbob rocketbob is offline
 
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I'm thinking I should quit watching TV, reading the news, and really scale back reading some of the forums I keep up with (like this one) and carry on being happy and productive, doing the things I like to do instead of trying to find reasons why I shouldn't do the things I do.
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