I don't even, what? - another AK aviation fatality :(

ppragman

ppragman

No pasa nada.
I am rarely surprised about accidents and incidents I see up north, but I'll be honest, this one is pretty surprising to me...

http://www.adn.com/article/20150611...-propeller-left-plane-running-ward-mosquitoes
Aviation
NTSB: Alaska pilot killed by propeller left plane running to ward off mosquitoes
Megan Edge
June 11, 2015
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preliminary investigation reportfrom the National Transportation Safety Board.

According to the report, Clark Baldwin’s plane, along with three others, were left running while the group loaded up the planes at the Peavine Bar Airstrip in the park, about 15 miles east of McCarthy.

"To stave off swarms of mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the engines of all four airplanes were started and allowed to operate at idle, with the cockpits unattended," the report said.



RELATED:
NTSB: Wasilla pilot killed by propeller in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
While loading gear on the right side of his Super Cub, the next plane began moving forward. Baldwin tried to move to the front of the plane to keep the planes from colliding, but ran into the back of a spinning propeller. He was struck three times, the report said.

Baldwin was the owner and operator of Alaska’s Cub Training Specialists, a flight school.

The planes were heading to Cordova when they touched down in the park to do off-airport landing and gravel bar training, a park ranger said last week.
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Here's the local report from the other day.

Baldwin, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Air Force and owner of the Alaska Club Training Specialists flight school, was teaching a class at the Peavine bar strip about 15 miles east of McCarthy Thursday morning, Broyles said.
"Baldwin was the only operator of the plane at the time and was instructing a small group of pilots when he got out of his plane was struck and killed by the propellers of his plane," Broyles told Channel 2 News.
According to Broyles, Baldwin's students contacted emergency medical services around 11 a.m. with a satellite phone.
The death is being investigated as an accident.
ORIGINAL STORY: A pilot is dead Friday after being hit by the propeller of his plane, officials of the National Transportation and Safety Board say.
NTSB officials were notified of the man's death around 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
Clint Johnson, Alaska chief of NTSB told Channel 2 News that the plane involved was a Piper PA-18 Super cub.
"Our understanding is that the pilot was getting ready to depart, the plane was idling and he got out of the plane to load some bags when he inadvertently walked around the plane into the propellers and was killed," Johnson said.
According to Johnson there were four other planes at the strip at the time of the fatality, which took place around 11 a.m. Thursday.
"We will be investigating it, as is our duty, but we won't be sending an investigator out there," Johnson said. The National Parks Service will leading the investigation into the pilot's death.
The events leading up to the pilot's death are still being investigated and there are few other details at the time.
Please check back for updates.
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You'd think they'd know better.
 
I've met him. I've even bought his book.
I never got the impression that he was someone who would have an accident like this.


His refund policy
Refund Policy
50% deposits are refunded only in the case of the death of a Client or Owners
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A150K said:
I had to lol at that one....I hate when people say that about any crash. I'm pretty sure most pilots love flying, not crashing.
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Yeah, that was the idea. I maintain that it is kind of funny, but probably in poor taste, particularly since some people here knew the guy.

So, you know, while I stand by the idea, sorry for deploying it at this particular moment.
 
ChasenSFO said:
Almost walked into the prop on a Bro once during a GPU disconnect as a ramper. It happens, complacency kills.
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I watched an ASA ramper get killed by a Bro prop back in the Late 90's in ATL...it was at night, ran into the prop...pieces were thrown on the Concourse C windows right where I was standing. Quite possibly the worst thing I've ever been witness to :(
 
ChasenSFO said:
Almost walked into the prop on a Bro once during a GPU disconnect as a ramper. It happens, complacency kills.
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Yeah, I saw a ramp guy almost walk in to my prop once. Now, granted, he was apparently new, but it's like, eh, what school of life did you go to where this doesn't equal danger? It was a weird feeling trying to panic-find the shutdown switches, even knowing it's totally futile. This dude got buttonholed by an older salt at the last second. There's no doubt in my mind he would have merrily walked right in to the arc with a smile on his face, otherwise. Poop, could be me, one day. If you see a short guy with a big head walking towards the arc, do me a solid, world.

What am I talking about?! I'll never see another prop, those are for losers! :D
 
Boris Badenov said:
Yeah, that was the idea. I maintain that it is kind of funny, but probably in poor taste, particularly since some people here knew the guy.

So, you know, while I stand by the idea, sorry for deploying it at this particular moment.
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The way I look at it, if I do something dumb and buy the farm I fully expect and encourage you all to enjoy a laugh at my expense.
 
SurferLucas said:
I watched an ASA ramper get killed by a Bro prop back in the Late 90's in ATL...it was at night, ran into the prop...pieces were thrown on the Concourse C windows right where I was standing. Quite possibly the worst thing I've ever been witness to :(
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must have been before 1995. I was ASA from 1995 to 2001 and a Safety Committee volunteer and accident investigator for ALPA. The only ground fatality ASA had during that time was the ramper who drove a tug into the right prop of an E120 taxing north on the ramp during a rainstorm at night. It happened on the south quarter point roadway.
 
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