Cessna hits SUV on student's first solo landing
- Thread starter tlewis95
- Start date
ComplexHiAv8r
Well-Known Member
I see Volvo and Cessna named in the lawsuit. Does the video show the SUV stop as indicated?
HerrGruyere
Well-Known Member
Blame will likely be put upon the pilot and airport because we all know aviation is dangerous and scary and they clearly should play golf like normal people.
rframe
pǝʇɹǝʌuı
Bad scenario, but as I tell my students, when you are flying you cannot trust anybody else to do what they are supposed to do so keep your head on a swivel, ears wide open, and be ready for surprises. I dont have to work to give them illustrations, almost every flight some other pilot proves my point for me... alertness and being ready to take alternative actions are required.
The markings to stop on that road do look like a joke to me. Had there been actual stop signs and low flying aircraft signs, and a clear view of the approach then this should be 100% on the car driver.... from what I saw in the video though it's hard to fault them for not even realizing they were supposed to stop or why.
As for the pilot, if this was traumatic enough to stop him from flying, then it's the right choice for him. Much worse things can happen when flying and if you're not willing to accept those risks then stay out fo the air.
The markings to stop on that road do look like a joke to me. Had there been actual stop signs and low flying aircraft signs, and a clear view of the approach then this should be 100% on the car driver.... from what I saw in the video though it's hard to fault them for not even realizing they were supposed to stop or why.
As for the pilot, if this was traumatic enough to stop him from flying, then it's the right choice for him. Much worse things can happen when flying and if you're not willing to accept those risks then stay out fo the air.
dustoff17
Still trying to reach the Top Shelf
As for this comment, it doesn't matter "why" you're supposed to stop. If the road shows stop, then STOP!!
Also, it's important to note that this road runs to the other side of the runway only. There are no houses, only hangars and aviation related businesses. I'm guessing that he driver of the SUV is a pilot that flies out of that airport! The driver of the SUV had a lapse in judgement and awareness......
thewaffles
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure the pilot would have had a chance to see the car at all during his approach, even if he was higher. It looks like it's coming out of his blind spot.
darrenf
resident denizen
To be fair, if you don't know what you are supposed to stop for, how do you know when to resume your motion? They're should be signs stating yield to approaching aircraft. Ambiguity increases the chances of something like this happening.
That said, I had to laugh at the woman stating they didn't pull out in front of a plane. Well lady, the evidence suggests you did.
fholbert
Mod's - Please don't edit my posts!
Clearly that is not a legal stop sign. A cop couldn't ticket you for not stopping because the sign painted on the road with a paint roller.
Not true. Houses are mixed with the hangars. Anyone exiting from I35 could make a wrong turn and cross the end of the runway. Lot of planes no taxiways, just streets which double as taxiways.
The runway markings are non-standard and the wrong color. There is no airport management here. This airport is an accident waiting to happen.
dustoff17
Still trying to reach the Top Shelf
You're right. What I meant by "stop because it shows STOP" is that the driver should have known better. This road only leads to hangars and as pointed out houses, so this asshat driver either LIVES there or flies out of there.......he most likely has been on that road numerous times before.To be fair, if you don't know what you are supposed to stop for, how do you know when to resume your motion? They're should be signs stating yield to approaching aircraft. Ambiguity increases the chances of something like this happening.
That said, I had to laugh at the woman stating they didn't pull out in front of a plane. Well lady, the evidence suggests you did.
Clearly they pulled out in the path of the plane despite the frantic beauchhh's response. If they would just post a sign like your Avitar, this wouldn't have happened in the first place......
darrenf
resident denizen
If they would just post a sign like your Avitar, this wouldn't have happened in the first place......
Well, it would have been less likely to happen, that's for sure.
dustoff17
Still trying to reach the Top Shelf
WAY out in left field!
Although clearly I was worng about this, your additional infomration makes my statement even more valid. This guy might live there and should be fully aware of the situation....
rframe
pǝʇɹǝʌuı
Your avatar is so awesome for this thread man!
darrenf
resident denizen
Thanks. I'm guessing if that sign were present, this would have been less likely to occur, and blame would be much easier to place.
jeflies
Well-Known Member
Exactly.
Even controllers shouldn't be trusted. When cleared for takeoff or landing I still visually look down the runway to see if its clear and on the approach to make sure I'm not putting myself into situation. Same goes for routine radio chatter. I've had several occasions where a radio call was blocked or misunderstood and it could have put me in the same airspace as someone else at the same time if I wasn't proactive about the slightest doubt in my mind. I hate when I fly with someone who only keeps an ear out for their own call sign. Its all part of situation awareness
In this case. the student pilot obviously hasn't had much exposure to flying and assumed the car would have stopped (if he even saw it). The people in the car were probably texting anyway...
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
I wanna know how the heck you clip a 5'10" tall SUV that's 430 feet away from the beginning of the usable landing portion of the runway. Unless your intent is to land on the displaced threshold...
JetBlue Airbus running up in the chevrons in St Maarten comes to mind here.
JetBlue Airbus running up in the chevrons in St Maarten comes to mind here.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
It wasn't THAT long ago that I soloed the first time. I accidentally cut someone off in the pattern, got a bit rattled and it took my brain a few seconds to catch up with what the tower was telling me to do. I remember a couple of seconds of "brain freeze" before aviate, navigate (it was in the pattern, but still) communicate came into play.
If I had hit that car, I'd consider giving up, too. Hopefully, as he has some time to reflect on the situation, he won't give up. Lessons like this are INVALUABLE when you can learn from them and then apply what you learned. Really hope he sticks with it.
If I had hit that car, I'd consider giving up, too. Hopefully, as he has some time to reflect on the situation, he won't give up. Lessons like this are INVALUABLE when you can learn from them and then apply what you learned. Really hope he sticks with it.
killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
He may have gacked up his approach and intended on adding power to cover that last 430 feet. It does happen. Lord knows I made some..."interesting" approaches when I was just a solo/recent solo pilot.
rframe
pǝʇɹǝʌuı
Sometimes it takes a student a while to get over a traumatic incident too. Last month I finished up a PPL for a guy who quit flying as a student pilot over 12 years ago after his instructor was killed while flying with another student. The guy's a great stick and will go far with whatever he chooses to do with flying. He's now talking about maybe even pursuing his Com and CFI eventually. Sometimes as a student, the reality of what we are doing isn't fully understood, and when something breaks our romantic view of flying it takes a while before we're able to move on... just part of processing, nothing wrong with that.
Having flown in and out of that airport many times, based on the video, the 4 wheeled vehicle is 100% at fault. Keep in mind that this is a private airport (public use) and that road is on private land. Airplanes have right of way at the airport... I hope the airplane owners will sue the (insert your favorite word) out of the driver of that vehicle. What on earth were they doing there if they didn't know to be looking out for an airplane? (you can see the airplanes on final from either side of the road at the "stop" markings)