Pilot asking for donations on REDDIT

[Melax]

There is a guy asking for $$ on REDDIT to replace his 206 that allegedly crashed in Tanzania. I could not find any independent info on the crash and no data in the FAA Prelim.The same tail number N36MS has been re-registered a few times including one on a 206 that crashed in Tanzania in 1998 (3 fatal 1 serious) NTSB link:LAX98WA316

Search for "bush Pilot" on REDDIT you'll find his Thread


Can someone in Tanzania confirm this ?

[daladaladriver]

confirmed

Flyby gone wrong. Pilot said plane was heavier than usual, caught him by surprise in the climb out of the flyby? The takeoff done minutes earlier would have been a good hint for what to expect out of the plane performancewise under current conditions. Seems he was enjoying the flyby moment a lil too long before pulling up out of the trees.

[Melax]

Yeah I read the story written by him, can you post any links to news story etc... thanks.

[daladaladriver]

It's bad luck to re-use a crashed plane's ident.

You won't find any news about this crash in masailand. Perhaps if tourists were on board the press would've made a story out of it. I doubt TCAA even bothers investigating the FMS mishaps unless there is a fatality.

[Melax]

Look, I have 50 + years of African experience, and this doesn't make a lot of sense OK. The FAA and NTSB should be notified immediately regardless of location (US registry airplane) , the pictures shown indicate fatalities most likely (1998 Crash ?) and The flying community in Africa is small so it is very intriguing that there is absolutely no trace of this accident (except the postings of this guy). So if you have personal knowledge of this alleged accident, please post details. We are very interested in this. Thanks

[Foxcotte]

This is quite something if this is the guy I think it is. His name is Pat something, and if my memory serves me right, this is about his third total write-off of a C206.

And yes, Daladaladriver you are probably right when you say "It's bad luck to re-use a crashed plane's ident". He keeps on using the same registration, and flies under the Red Cross banner as a one man band operation in East Africa. Three times not so lucky.

His last wipe out involved 7 passengers on board a C206!!! His guardian angel was looking the other way when he approached a hillside airstrip from BELOW threshold level and failed to make the runway - I think that was the story at the time.

Donating to this cause to buy another 206 might score brownie points in the next life, but I'm not sure it does much for the longevity of his operation in this world!!

[Foxcotte]

Full report and pictures....

This certainly shows the result of what happened this last time, but as to exactly how and why....

Ben Wilhelmi: Flying Medical Service, aircraft accident, Tanzania

[Rat Catcher]

Pat was not flying this aircraft when gravity recalled it.

[Hawkeye0001]

Look, I have 50 + years of African experience, and this doesn't make a lot of sense OK. The FAA and NTSB should be notified immediately regardless of location (US registry airplane) , the pictures shown indicate fatalities most likely (1998 Crash ?) and The flying community in Africa is small so it is very intriguing that there is absolutely no trace of this accident (except the postings of this guy). So if you have personal knowledge of this alleged accident, please post details. We are very interested in this. Thanks

Appropriate authorities were notified, Tanzanian Ministry of Transport went out to investigate.
The pictures you saw are footage of the actual event and - though hard to believe - no fatalities, everyone walked away from it and is back to work as of this week.
Newspapers didn't care much this time around; one article in a local newspaper. Probably they didn't even hear about it.
As said before not Pat flying, but one of their full time pilots.

His last wipe out involved 7 passengers on board a C206!!! His guardian angel was looking the other way when he approached a hillside airstrip from BELOW threshold level and failed to make the runway - I think that was the story at the time.

A go-around on a runway that does not allow for a go-around during a flight with a trainee-pilot on board (not the one that just crashed). Crashed into a parallel ridgeline a few hundred meters off the strip. That strip is on a ridge, has a slope of something ridiculous like 1:10, requires full power to taxi to the end and on take-off you will see 600ft negative vertical speed when rotating to a straight and level attitude while the ground drops away from under you. Considering that was their first and only prang there in 31 years of operation I'd say that is rather impressive flying. Check out the photo-blog that was posted earlier for its August 2013 entries (bottom end), it has pictures of that crash and the plane looked equally mangled with everyone walking away.

Not a good last year for them and certainly a major ****-up but hopefully a lesson learned. And I draw my hat to the guy to actually come out & fess up. Instead of covering up, making excuses or just leaving he faces all the blame and still actively tries to make up for his blatant mistake with the herculean task of raising donations for a new airplane.
And maybe his report gives one or the other youngster pilot who reads it some insight of what not to do.

[B Sousa]

N-number : N36MSAircraft Serial Number : U20603959
Aircraft Manufacturer : CESSNA
Model : U206G
Engine Manufacturer : CONT MOTOR
Model : IO 520 SERIES
Aircraft Year : 1977
Owner Name : FLYING MEDICAL SERVICE
Owner Address : 1758 MANCHESTER BLVD
GROSSE POINT WOODS, MI, 48236
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 20-Sep-2007
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations : Normal