Originally Posted by
Don_Apron
Jamie
Agreed, especially if the strip is marginal you need time to get it set up. If the circuit was low it was probably out of the pilot's control, if the RoC was low. However a short final with engine problems it is not good, if indeed that was the case.
Happy no one was hurt.
There is always Heathrow. Nice long runway there, if you don't mind being on the news and spending a week filling out paperwork.
I think if I was presented with a high energy aeroplane with a problem overhead Denham, and had a little time in hand, I'd probably declare an emergency and go to Northolt with better crash facilities and much more runway.
But to be fair to whoever was flying this particular Piper, it appears there was no significant injury, and hardware is insured and can be replaced. So whatever they may have done wrong, it wasn't that wrong.
G