It finally happened

jrh said:
I lost a good friend this morning in a plane crash. Up until today, I've been very blessed to have gone eight years as a professional pilot without losing anyone close to me.

http://www.1011now.com/home/headlin...m_plane_crash_near_Neb_airport_129232828.html

My friend, Jeff, was the flight instructor in this Pitts. Lots of details are missing, but it appears to have been an engine failure on takeoff.

Jeff was a really fantastic guy. He literally had a lifetime of flying experience to draw from. When he wasn't flying Citations or King Airs for the local FBO's charter department, he was restoring J-3 cubs and flying off of private grass strips. A couple months ago I laughed as I walked into the FBO's lobby and saw an unpainted J-3 cowling on the floor--Jeff had picked it up from a faraway airport, stuck it in the Citation's baggage compartment, and brought it home during his latest charter trip, to save on shipping costs for one of his restoration projects.

He loved all things tailwheel and I looked up to him as an extremely talented pilot, instructor, and person in general. Words can't describe how much respect I have for the man. He was truly the role model for how I hope to look back on my own flying career twenty years from now.

It's crazy for me to think about how much can change in an instant. My last conversation with him was in the hallway at work a few days ago, chatting for twenty minutes about how I'm looking forward to flying for Cape Air. He was full of good career advice and stories from his various employers over the years.

I won't finish this post with a caution to "fly safe." Jeff was one of the most current, qualified, safest pilots I know. But he's still not here tonight.

Instead, I'd advise everyone to be thankful for their time in the sky and time spent with people you care about. Live without regrets. You never know when it will end.
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we all lost a brother that day. RIP
 
TwoTwoLeft said:
Bummer, it's always the good ones too. Don't let it get you down, go fly.
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This is some great advice.

It sucks to suddenly lose someone you are close to... whether it be in avaition or otherwise.

From experience, the closer the person is to you, the harder it becomes to accept and move on, BUT...

Go fly. That is the best advice and medicine you can have right now. Go by yourself to enjoy the solitude, or take somebody with you and just go out and fly in circles.

Sorry for your loss, but time does help heal wounds.
 
The pilots were identified this afternoon as Mark Pearson, the owner, and Jeff Clausen, the instructor.

Also, the aircraft was *not* a Pitts. It was a Christen Eagle.

The pilot previously owned a Pitts, but recently bought this Christen Eagle. Jeff was providing instruction for the initial checkout flight.

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_c4d0a526-d80d-503b-b047-91a8da5580d8.html

Also, I believe this is the accident aircraft:

http://www.controller.com/listingsd...E-II/1982-AVIAT-CHRISTEN-EAGLE-II/1197433.htm
 
contactground.9 said:
Has that thing sat on the silverhawk ramp before? Unless they paint many of them like that, I think I've seen it.
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Well, that is the "traditional" Christen Eagle paint scheme, but still, that's the one. It's been based here in Lincoln for a few years I think and showed up on the Silverhawk ramp from time to time.

The news story mentioned that Jeff actually used to own the plane himself.
 
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