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09-17-2011, 08:25 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Chesterfield, Missouri
Posts: 4,514
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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.
__________________
RV-12 Build Helper
RV-7A...Sold #70374
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I'm in, dues paid 2019 This place is worth it!
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09-17-2011, 08:30 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator
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.
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I would rather be a fireball in the sky than living in a hospice hotel with a diaper on.
.
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RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
Last edited by Geico266 : 09-17-2011 at 09:00 PM.
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09-17-2011, 08:38 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bay Pines, FL (based @ KCLW)
Posts: 1,955
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geico266
I would rather be a fireball in the sky than living in a hospice hotel with a diaper on.
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Well said. I think 
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Danny "RoadRunner" Landry
Morphed RV7(formally 7A), N20DL, PnP Pilot
1190+ hours
2019 Donation Paid
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09-17-2011, 08:42 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tybee Island, GA
Posts: 664
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geico266
I would rather be a fireball in the sky than living in a hospice hotel with a diaper on.
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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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Mitch V.
Semi-Retired in Tybee Island GA
2007 MX2 Nigel Lamb EX RBAR MX2 (Current)
2020 MX2 New Kit Position (Sold at OSH to Team RV Member)
2009 Team Rocket F1 (Sold)
2008 MXS Green Slime"(Sold)
2007 MX2 Patches" (Sold)
1999 Giles 202 "Primal Fear/Perucho" (Sold)
1965 PA32-260 "God Bless America" (Sold)
2003 RV6 "Airhawk One" (Sold)
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09-17-2011, 08:43 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 377
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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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09-17-2011, 08:45 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lancaster, PA
Posts: 144
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David-aviator
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.
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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 :-)
__________________
Andrew
Lancaster, PA l RV-7 #3898 l Empennage l N627AB
"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things" ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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09-17-2011, 08:47 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
Posts: 5,862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flynwest
I watched my dad die of alzhiemers. Give me the fire ball. Go out doing what you love.
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"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
Statistically, eventually, everyone's number is up flying an airplane.
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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.
__________________
RV-7 : In the hangar
RV-10 : In the hangar
RV-12 : Built and sold
RV-44 : 4 place helicopter on order.
Last edited by Geico266 : 09-18-2011 at 07:13 AM.
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09-17-2011, 09:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Big Sandy, WY
Posts: 2,567
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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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Actual repeat offender.
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09-17-2011, 09:01 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: KSLC
Posts: 4,021
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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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09-17-2011, 09:05 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 8I3
Posts: 3,564
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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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Bob Japundza CFI A&PIA
N9187P PA-24-260B Comanche, flying
N678X F1 Rocket, under const.
N244BJ RV-6 "victim of SNF tornado" 1200+ hrs, rebuilding
N8155F C150 flying
N7925P PA-24-250 Comanche, restoring
Not a thing I own is stock.
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