Notices
Hangar Talk For non-aviation-related discussion and aviation threads that don't belong elsewhere

Crazy pilot in ROA?

Old 08-18-2008, 04:51 PM
  #1  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Furloughed RJ to KSAT Tower/Tracon
Posts: 120
Default Crazy pilot in ROA?

Any word on what this guy was up to circling for hours? A flight attendant told me he was talking on the radio like he was gonna kill himself?
ksatflyer is offline  
Old 08-18-2008, 05:28 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 7ER B...whatever that means.
Posts: 3,964
Default

Originally Posted by ksatflyer View Post
Any word on what this guy was up to circling for hours? A flight attendant told me he was talking on the radio like he was gonna kill himself?
Rule of thumb: only believe about a third of what a flight attendant tells you.
freezingflyboy is offline  
Old 08-18-2008, 05:34 PM
  #3  
Gets Weekends Off
 
trackpilot's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: CRJ FO no more
Posts: 463
Default

Now how would an FA know what the guy was saying on the radio???
trackpilot is offline  
Old 08-19-2008, 02:58 AM
  #4  
New Hire
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 5
Default

Aero-News Network: Crazy pilot at ROA
Kcpilot is offline  
Old 08-19-2008, 09:37 AM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Clue32's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 821
Default

Originally Posted by ksatflyer View Post
Any word on what this guy was up to circling for hours? A flight attendant told me he was talking on the radio like he was gonna kill himself?
Glad he landed without incident and very thankful he decided not to plow into the mall.

ERAU had an instructor steal a seminole and commited suicide with it after doing multiple traffic patterns (1997 as I recall). Very sad indeed.
Clue32 is offline  
Old 08-19-2008, 09:46 AM
  #6  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Swivel Chair
Posts: 97
Default

Originally Posted by freezingflyboy View Post
Rule of thumb: only believe about a third of what a flight attendant tells you.
So the third time she says "I just want to "DO" you!" it counts?

TransMach
TransMach is offline  
Old 08-19-2008, 10:31 AM
  #7  
Swearing at the FMA
 
kansas's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: MD-88 FO
Posts: 902
Default

Originally Posted by Clue32 View Post
Glad he landed without incident and very thankful he decided not to plow into the mall.

ERAU had an instructor steal a seminole and commited suicide with it after doing multiple traffic patterns (1997 as I recall). Very sad indeed.
Was that the UND incident?
kansas is offline  
Old 08-20-2008, 12:48 PM
  #8  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Clue32's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 821
Default

Originally Posted by kansas View Post
Was that the UND incident?
No. It was ERAU.

NTSB Identification: MIA98FA239 .
The docket is stored in the Docket Management System (DMS). Please contact Records Management Division
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 06, 1998 in DAYTONA BEACH, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 2/16/2001
Aircraft: Piper PA-44-180, registration: N922ER
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
The pilot gained unauthorized access to the aircraft and departed the airport followed a short time later by a request to ATC for an ILS approach to runway 7 left. As the flight approached the runway it was observed at a high altitude and when questioned if he could get down and land, the pilot reported 'this will be my final landing.' Witnesses observed the aircraft fly over the end of the runway at about 600 feet and then descend in a nose low attitude until impact with the runway. Engine power was observed to go to full power as the aircraft descended. The pilot was observed to have consumed alcohol beverages prior to the accident and was found to have a alcohol level of .15 g/dl in the liver. The pilot left a note stating 'I do not want to live.' The Medical Examiners Office ruled the manner of death as suicide.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's use of the aircraft to commit suicide.
Clue32 is offline  
Old 08-20-2008, 01:22 PM
  #9  
Line Holder
 
xjcaptain's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 85
Default

Looks like it was ERAU and UND:

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On October 2, 2000, at 1933 mountain daylight time (mdt), a Piper PA-44-180, N294ND, owned and operated by the University of North Dakota and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with runway 32 (8,701 feet by 150 feet, dry/concrete) at the Rapid City Regional Airport, Rapid City, South Dakota. There was a post-impact explosion and fire. The airplane had been conducting touch and go operations on runway 32 prior to the accident. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. The flight departed Custer State Park Airport (3V0), Fairburn, South Dakota, at an undetermined time.

A witness observed the accident airplane land at 3V0 about 1800. The accident pilot told the witness that he had flown from Nebraska and was thinking about flying to Denver that evening. After a few minutes of conversation, the accident pilot stated to the witness that he was thinking about flying by Mount Rushmore and wanted to know if there were any flight restrictions over the monument. The witness told the accident pilot that there were altitude restrictions over the monument and discussed specific details on how to depart from the 3V0. The witness stated that the accident airplane and pilot were still at 3V0 when he departed after 1830.

According to a transcript of Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications between the accident airplane (N294ND) and the Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) local controller (LC), the accident airplane approached RAP from the southwest.

The communications between N294ND and the RAP LC were transcribed as follows:

1852:14
N294ND rapid city tower seminole two niner four november delta out of six thousand five
hundred for stop and go's seven to---the---west

1852:28
LC (unintelligible) two niner four november delta rapid city tower runway three two
cleared to land win---correction cleared for the option wind zero three zero at eight

1852:34
N294ND cleared for the option four november delta thank you

1856:47
LC four november delta can make left closed traffic

1856:50
N294ND roger four november delta

1858:24
LC four november delta runway three two cleared for the option traffic bonanza on the
go be right turn

1859:29
N294ND kay traffic in sight cleared for the option four november delta

1901:02
LC four november delta make right traffic this pass traffic cessna four miles northwest
be entering left downwind

1901:08
N249ND roger right traffic four november delta

1901:42
N249ND four november delta we can we'll make it a tight one this time

1901:47
LC four november delta roger cleared for the option

1901:49
N249ND cleared for the option four november delta

1904:35
N294ND and four november delta did you want me on left traffic again

1904:38
LC four november delta your choice this pass left or right traffic is approved

1904:42
N294ND kay i guess we'll go left traffic four november delta

1904:45
LC roger and squawk and maintain v f r

1904:47
N294ND okay v f r four november delta

1905:58
LC four november delta is cleared for the option wind zero two zero at eight

1906:01
N294ND cleared for the option four november delta

1910:40
LC four november delta is cleared for the option

1910:42
N294ND cleared for the option four november delta

1910:53
N294ND how late is ah tower open till tonight

1910:55
LC open till ten

1914:49
N294ND and four november delta are we clear

1914:51
LC four november delta is cleared for the option

1914:54
N294ND cleared for the option four november delta

1918:37
LC four november delta's cleared for the option wind zero two zero at eight

1918:40
N294ND four november delta cleared for the option thank you

1921:32
N294ND and for four november delta do you have ah a second to take down a phone number
really quick

1921:39
LC go ahead

1921:41
N294ND it is one eight hundred three four four zero three one four and that's ah u n d flight
operations

1921:53
LC roger we got one eight hundred three four four zero three one four

1921:57
N294ND roger four november delta and ah you don't need to use it

1922:03
N294ND yet

1922:04
LC roger

1925:13
N294ND so it looks like about one more option then ah full stop for four november delta

1925:18
LC four november delta roger

1926:32
LC four november delta is cleared for the option wind zero two zero at eight

1926:36
N294ND cleared for the option for four november delta

1930:35
N294ND for four november delta you still have that phone number

1930:37
LC affirm

1930:39
N294ND kay four november delta after all this ah that's the people that you can contact at
u n d um and we'll be full stop this time and ah

1931:01
N294ND and four november delta still cleared to land right

1931:03
LC four november delta is cleared to land and what did you want me to tell em when
i call em

1931:09
N294ND stand by four november delta

1932:06
N294ND okay for four november delta uh

1932:14
N294ND yea standby

1932:18
N294ND for four november delta we've got ah thirty gallons a fuel on board one soul on
board and my name is bob thompsen and if you can give them a call at that one
eight hundred number and let them know it's ah where i'm at and also if you could
tell my family and friends that i love them very much

1932:44
N294ND my name again is bob thompsen

1932:47
LC you just ah were you going to depart out of here or stay the night

1932:49
N294ND um i'll stay the night

1932:51
LC roger we'll let em know

1932:55
N294ND and ah it be a good idea to get ah airport rescue and fire fighting out here too please

1933:02
LC four november delta are you declaring an emergency

1933:13
LC four november delta tower

1933:20
LC two niner four november delta rapid city tower

1933:26
N294ND (unintelligible)

According to a written statement provided by the ATC controller who was working at the time of the accident, the airplane had been conducting touch and go maneuvers prior to the accident. The controller stated that the pilot requested a full stop landing and on approach, "[the pilot] proceeded to level off at about 100 [feet above ground level] on short final and increase his speed, on the go. Shortly past A4 intersection, the pilot pulled nearly straight up, appearing to stall out around 1,000 ft agl[,] coming down at a steep angle and crashing just past A3 intersection."


PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot was the holder of a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane operations. The pilot was also the holder of a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine, airplane multi-engine, and instrument airplane operations. FAA records show the pilot's last medical examination date was December 17, 1999, and the pilot was issued a first-class medical certificate with the limitation, "Must wear corrective lenses".

According to the pilot's flight logbook and University of North Dakota flight records, the pilot had accumulated a total time of 1,203.3 flight hours as of his last flight record, dated September 30, 2000. As of the last fight record, the pilot had logged 969.6 hours of flight time in single-engine airplanes and 233.7 hours in multiengine airplanes. The pilot satisfied the requirements of a biennial flight review on December 13, 1999, when he satisfactorily completed a FAA checkride for an additional CFI rating.


AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The aircraft was a Piper PA-44-180, N294ND, serial number 4496029. The Piper PA-44-180 is a production built, two engine, low wing monoplane of all metal construction, equipped with a retractable landing gear and controllable pitch propellers. According to FAA records, the airplane was issued a Standard Airworthiness Certificate on December 18, 1999. According to the airplane's service records, the last aircraft phase inspection was completed on September 21, 2000, at 598.3 total hours. According to the service records, the airplane had accumulated a total-time of 652.7 hours on October 2, 2000.

The left engine was a Textron Lycoming O-360-A1H6, serial number L3718336A, and had accumulated a total-time of 652.7 hours on October 2, 2000.

The right engine was a Textron Lycoming LO-360-A1H6, serial number L61271A, and had accumulated a total-time of 652.7 hours on October 2, 2000.


METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

An automated surface observing system (ASOS) located at the Rapid City Regional Airport reported the weather three minutes prior to the accident as:

Observation Time: 1930 mdt
Wind: 020-degrees at 5 knots
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Sky Condition: Sky clear
Temperature: 11-degrees Celsius
Dew Point: 04-degrees Celsius
Pressure: 29.93 inches of mercury


WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) on-scene investigation began on October 3, 2000.

The aircraft was recovered from the accident site prior to the arrival of the NTSB investigator and was positioned behind a hangar located at the Rapid City Regional Airport. Flight control continuity was verified for the aileron, elevator, and rudder control systems. Both left and right crankshaft flanges were broken loose from their respective crankshafts. The breaks had signatures consistent with torsional overload failure. Both left and right propeller hubs, including all propeller blades, were separated from their respective engines. All propeller blades had chordwise scratching, S-shape bending, and leading edge gouges.


MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot at the Clinical Laboratory of the Black Hills, Rapid City, South Dakota, on October 3, 2000.

A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The toxicology results for the pilot were:

* No Carbon Monoxide detected in Blood
* No Cyanide detected in Blood
* No Ethanol detected in Vitreous
* No Drugs detected in Blood


ADDITIONAL DATA/INFORMATION

According to an Investigation Report prepared by the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, the pilot's cause of death was, "...blunt force trauma due to an airplane crash with the manner of death as suicide."

Parties to the investigation included the Federal Aviation Administration, University of North Dakota, The New Piper Aircraft Company, and Textron Lycoming.
xjcaptain is offline  
Old 08-20-2008, 08:42 PM
  #10  
Gets Weekends Off
 
stoki's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: bar stool
Posts: 771
Default

That last transcript was chilling. Can you imagine being the controller? wow..
stoki is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Longbow64
Part 135
117
07-23-2009 08:46 AM
angelicm3
Leaving the Career
13
10-22-2008 05:01 PM
yacko
Military
12
08-18-2008 06:26 PM
TipTip35
Military
13
08-11-2008 01:24 PM
DamonMeyer
Hangar Talk
0
08-09-2008 03:09 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices