Breaking news...GA crash at DVT

Boris Badenov said:
IMHO, you don't require spin training because you think someone is going to get out of a spin at 200ft. You require spin training because it increases one's understanding of how to fly the wing. What it feels like when things are about to let go.
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I couldn't agree more. A successful low altitude spin recovery, even with in-depth training, is a roll of the dice. The pilot's reaction has to be immediate and exact. Unless you practice them regularly, I would posit that even high time pilots may overcontrol on an inadvertant spin recovery. The spin training I experienced was focused almost entirely on recognizing the conditions that will get you into a spin and what those initial conditions look and feel like. In other words, how to avoid getting into the spin regime in the first place. Final turn cross-controlled stalls are what need to be emphasized IMO.
 
ThumperMCS said:
Anyway, I was compelled to make this first post as I knew the pilot personally as a family friend. He was experienced, he was Instrument rated, had his Commercial SEL & MEL, as well as his glider rating. I was not aware it was him when the story first came out yesterday, but my heart sank as I read the news articles this morning when they released his name. :(
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Sorry for your loss.

I don't think anyone here is making judgements, just reviewing the accident. Most of us have lost friends to the skies, and most (not all) do not take part in the Monday morning quarterbacking that often goes along with plane crashes. We review the information that is available, and try to learn how we can avoid the same fate. The sad thing is we may never know exactly what happened in this (or many other) instances.
 
No matter how you cut it, this is a dangerous game. It's all about risk management and trying to keep the "cheese holes" from lining up on you. Just yesterday, I went flying to brush up on some maneuvers that I hadn't practiced in a while. As I was climbing out at about 600-700 AGL, I started farting around with my phone (it was playing a song that I didn't want to hear) for probably no more than 5 seconds and when I looked up I had gotten myself in one helluva climb...I would have given it maybe 2 more seconds before I would have been in a departure stall. To be honest, it scared the ever living crap out of me. I debated on turning back and "taking a break" but instead, I cruised west for about 30 miles and shook it off. I practiced the maneuvers that I wanted to review and then some. Oddly enough, I found out that a glider pilot had been killed in a mid-air in the very area I had been practicing about an hour after I returned home. This was a VERY STRONG wake up call to me. So...I guess the moral of the story is, yes, Mike D is right...you know not when your time will be up...BUT you can do best to mitigate as many risks as you can to try and have him call another day.
 
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