Worlds 11th richest man killed in Ultralight crash!

[Cyclic Hotline]

Wal-Mart heir John Walton dies in crash

Grand Teton National Park rangers and fire personnel examine the wreckage of an ultra light aircraft that crashed Monday, June 27, 2005 just north of Jackson Hole Airport near Jackson, Wyo. The pilot, John T. Walton, a billionaire son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and a member of the company's board was killed in the crash.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. --John Walton, the billionaire son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and a member of the company's board, died Monday in a plane crash in Wyoming.

Walton, 58, of Jackson, Wyo., was piloting an ultralight that crashed shortly after takeoff from the Jackson Hole Airport in Grand Teton National Park, the company said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the cause of the afternoon crash was not known, officials said.

The plane was an experimental ultralight aircraft with a small, gasoline-powered engine and wings wrapped in fabric similar to heavy-duty sail cloth, officials said.

In March, Forbes Magazine listed John Walton as No. 11 on its list of the world's richest people with a net worth of $18.2 billion. He was tied with his brother Jim, one spot behind his bother Rob, and just ahead of his sister Alice and his mother Helen.

Walton joined the board of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in 1992, but did not work for the company.

"We're sad that John Walton, who was well-known and much-loved in this valley, died doing something that he loved to do, which was fly aircraft," said Joan Anzelmo, a spokeswoman for Grand Teton National Park.

"I saw parts of it," she said of the plane. "I didn't realize what I was seeing at first. It was so lightweight it looked like a giant model airplane."

Anzelmo said officials notified the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

"Because this is a homemade, non-registered, experimental aircraft, at least today they told us there was not going to be an investigation," she said. Grand Teton rangers will conduct their own probe, as is done with any major accident in the park, she said.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said the company notified its employees worldwide of Walton's death.

Walton was an Army veteran who served with the Green Berets as a medic during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Silver Star for saving the lives of several members of his unit while under enemy fire, according to the company. He attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, and served as a board member of the Walton Family Foundation.

The company said Walton pursued a variety of business interests including working as a crop duster in the 1970s and building boats in the 1980s. More recently, he had formed a holding company, True North, to oversee various business interests.

Walton is survived by his wife, Christy, and son, Luke; his mother, Helen; two brothers, Rob and Jim; and a sister, Alice.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.

[airship]

In March, Forbes Magazine listed John Walton as No. 11 on its list of the world's richest people with a net worth of $18.2 billion. He was tied with his brother Jim, one spot behind his bother Rob, and just ahead of his sister Alice and his mother Helen. If there's a tie for 11th place, is there a 12th place or just a jump to 13th? That's only important because if there wasn't a 12th place, everyone would be able to move up one... :}

[Zlin526]

Well by that reckoning, I must be the 500,000,000,000,000,1st richest chap in the world then, now that 12th place has been vacated...

Just goes to show that even if you are stinking rich, the ground is still bloody hard and just as likely to kill you!

Don't you just love the trivia the press spews out?:yuk:

[josephshankes]

Very sad news indeed.

All that money and he couldn't save his axxx. What hope have I got?

[sandy helmet]

Does anyone know what type of UL it was?

[Jerricho]

What hope have I got

Don't fly an ultra-light

*shrug*

[Cyclic Hotline]

I think that is very sound advice Jerricho. Very sound indeed!

[aviate1138]

Jerricho said in part....

"Don't fly an ultra-light"

*shrug*

Aviate 1138 says.....

You obviously haven't flown one then? There is a PFA
Rally at Kemble in early July. There will be a number of UK Microlights there. Hard to tell microlights from 'real' aeroplanes as the *shrug* probably indicates your view. _Unless they are the obvious weightshift sort.
A lot of 'real' pilots fly microlights and enjoy doing so. After all, they too are real aeroplanes, subject to the same aerodynamic laws.
The BMAA have a website worth a look. BTW a few 'real' aeroplanes kill their pilots too. Maybe they should be avoided for the same reason?

Aviate 1138

[Jerricho]

Aviate 1138 says..........

Jerricho says.........I think you had better go and re-read my WHOLE post and take it in the vein it was meant :rolleyes:

(You see, when Joseph said "with all that money" and asks what hope does he have.....oh forget it. If you didn't get the joke then)

[Genghis the Engineer]

I'd also be interested to know the type and circumstances if anybody knows.

It is worthy of mention that around the world most countries have a "lightweight" deregulated category below which airworthiness and licencing rules are relaxed.

Here in the UK, this line is at 450kg/990lb, with a 35 knot stalling speed. However, the aircraft are still "certified" and the pilots still have to complete a PPL course, pass a skills test, and maintain a minimum level of currency. Pilots trained on other types have to do some kind of conversion.

In the USA, the line is single seat / 115kg/254lb empty, with a maximum speed of 55 knots. To fly these light single seaters you need no licence, no registration (although that may be changing), and no form of airworthiness approval for the aeroplane.

Whilst I'd not wish to prejudge either the pilot or aircraft in this case, it's likely that US ultralights have a poorer safety record than UK microlights (or most other countries with their own flavours of "light touch" light aviation).

The other thing often missed is that aeroplanes that small and light / low energy do not handle or perform like a bigger faster aeroplane (say a C150!). Pilots experienced and safe on such aeroplanes are not necessarily safe on a single seat aeroplane with a take-off weight around 500 lbf. (Or vice versa of course).

(Conversely, in the USA gliders have to have an ICAO compliant CofA and pilots a PPL, whilst in the UK it was until very recently quite legal to build and fly a glider on your own with no controls whatsoever. Of-course, the BGA made sure this didn't really happen, just as the USUA does it's best to keep ultralight flying safe in America).

G

[bzh]

with all that money, couldn't he buy a better machine?

[arcniz]

Reminds one how we are each and all but a short step from eternity, dust, whatever. RIP

[Jerricho]

Shhhh bzh,

Aviate1138 may hear you.

As to poor Mr Walton, may he RIP.

[Onan the Clumsy]

If there's a tie for 11th place, is there a 12th place or just a jump to 13th? That's only important because if there wasn't a 12th place, everyone would be able to move up one... The accepted policy is that if there is a tie for nth place, then (n+1)th place is skipped and the next highest sits in (n+2)th place.

Furthermore, if there are m people typing for nth place, then places (n+1), (n+2)...(n+m-1) are skipped and the next highest sits in (n+m)th place.


So to answer your question: In this case, there was a tie between two people for 11th place, so the next person sat in 13th place, until the demise of one of the two tied people at which point the 13th place person rises to 12th place, 14th to 13th etc and you get to rejoice in being one rung nearer the top - temporarily at least.


This Adaptive Sequencing is different from the Linear Sequencing involved in say being born, or more appropriately here at least, dying. Namely that in Adaptive Sequencing, your position varies along a determinate region of the full spectrum, (you are only likely to become so rich or so poor for instance), whereas in Linear Sequencing, your position varies, possibly in both directions in relation to the spectrun limits, but ultimately towards and to the spectrum limits.

In layman's terms, you get sick, you recover, but sooner or later you''re the next person to die.

[Volume]

Hard to tell microlights from 'real' aeroplanes as the *shrug* probably indicates your view. A lot of 'real' pilots fly microlights and enjoy doing so. After all, they too are real aeroplanes, subject to the same aerodynamic laws.

Easy to tell microlights from 'real' aeroplanes, just fly them like ´real´ aeroplanes and you will see the difference, unfortunately you will not be able to tell anyone anymore...
The accident statistics for microlight are really bad, for example in Germany they are 8 times more deadly per flight hour than motorgliders !
Just lost two friends in the last two years in microlight crashes of aerplanes, that really looked and felt like a ´real´ airplane, except for some minor flaws... Nearly all pilots killed in microlight crashes in the last years were experienced pilots that flew serious airplanes for decades.

Don't fly an ultra-light

I fully support this statement !

but on the other hand, if you do smoke, the probability that cigarettes will kill you is higher than the probability that a microlight will kill you.

[Genghis the Engineer]

What are the actual fatal accident rates in Germany for motorgliders and Ultralights?

G

[flugholm]

Genghis ---

here's the BFU Annual Report for 2004.
http://www.bfu-web.de/fustat/2004/BFU-V165-JB2004.pdf

On the cover it says "ausgenommen Luftsportgeräte", literally "air sports equiment not included", meaning "not including microlights". The BFU refuse to deal with them.

Unfortunately it's available in German only, but I think pages 4 to 7 are understandable.... These are the absolute numbers, not related to flight hours or number of flights:

Reisemotorsegler (touring motorglider, TMG) list 30 (27) accidents in 2004 in total,
including 0 (0) severe incidents,
including 2 (1) accidents with severe injuries with 3 (2) persons severely injured,
including 1 (1) accidents causing death with 1 (1) persons dead. (Previous year's figures in brackets.)

So this answers (roughly) half of your question!

....and roughly the other half of your question is answered in this FlugRevue article


>Mehr tödliche Unfälle
>Wenig erfreulich ist die Unfallstatistik für dreiachsgesteuerte Ultraleichtflugzeuge, die das Büro für Flugsicherheit des DAeC für das Jahr 2004 vorgelegt hat (Stand: 31. Oktober). Trotz insgesamt rückläufiger Unfallzahlen ist die Zahl der tödlichen Unfälle im Vergleich zu 2003 gestiegen. Ereigneten sich 2003 noch drei Unfälle mit tödlichem Ausgang, waren es 2004 sieben. Zwölf UL-Insassen kamen dabei ums Leben, doppelt so viele wie im Jahr zuvor. Die Gesamtzahl der gemeldeten Unfälle ist dagegen von 61 auf 45 zurückgegangen – ein Minus von 26 Prozent.

My quick-and-dirty translation:

Microlights had 7 (3) deadly accidents with 12 (6) people dead.
Total reported accidents 45 (61).

Hmpf.... As Jerricho and Volume correctly said... "Don't fly an ultra-light"....!
:\

[Genghis the Engineer]

These numbers I'm afraid don't really give us the picture do they? In order to make a meaningful comparison we need fatalities per sortie, per nnn flying hours, per xxx pilots - something that allows us to compare like with like.

And of course, similar numbers for GA, light helicopters, gliders - something that gives us a reasonable feel for whether ultralights / microlights are better or worse.

G

[skua]

I have never met John, but I have met his brother, Rob. Despite his huge wealth, on a scale incomprehensible to me and most of the rest of this forum I suspect, he is a genuine, warm-hearted, and normal fellow. I would be surprised if John were not the same. Rob is mad on aviation too.

The fact that John was flying an ultralight shows that he had his feet firmly on the ground, and his mind firmly in the heavens. May all his future landings be soft.

Skua

[bar shaker]

Some diabolical crap being spoken on here.

In the UK, microlight accidents are on par with helicopters, both of which are slightly worse than GA.

In the US, the situation is completely different. As has been said, you can build your own ultralight, without any inspections of previous experience and then you can fly it without any previous flying experience, subject to the aircraft weighing less than 115kg.

This could not be further from the situation in the UK.

I have no knowledge of the German market, except for one point. All ultralights in Germany must have a BRS fitted. I am firmly of the belief that this leads pilots into the mistaken belief that if it all goes wrong, they just pull the handle. Daily inspections have less importance and aerobatics seem more attractive, when you have a chute fitted. The reality is that if something goes wrong below 1500ft, its unlikely to save you.

I suspect that John Walton was flying a tiny homebuilt, because it gave him much more of a buzz than driving a 40 year old Cessna or Piper.

[Gerhardt]

Onan, you're a riot! I think the others have missed your subtle humor.

[terryJones]

Genghis the Engineer
You wanted more info:-

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/422-full.html#190076

[Genghis the Engineer]

Thank you.

G

[Ultralights]

dont fly ultralights huh!

In Oz Ultralights are safer than GA! then again, most ultralights in oz are certified aircraft! but limited to 660Kg MTOW, 2 seats, 10,000ft ceiling.

I would rather fly my 1 yr old composite ultralight at 150 kts, then a 40 yr old warrior at 100 Kts!

[MadamBreakneck]

"Nearly all pilots killed in microlight crashes in the last years were experienced pilots that flew serious airplanes for decades. "

Maybe this is the crux of the matter...


:sad:

[terryJones]

Genghis the Engineer
Yet more, including an interesting comment re the fuselage covering.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/429-full.html#190174

[trafficcontrol]

If i had all that much money, the last thing i would want to fly is a Ultra light......How about something more reliable like.....a Challenger, i mean with all that money, im sure he could afford one.........right? Im sure they are more fun to fly too. :P

God Bless anyway, always a shame to hear of Fatal Incidents.

Kindest Regards

Sam

[Genghis the Engineer]

A somewhat biassed view TC, had a bad experience with one?

In 500+ hours of microlight flying, I've had a few scares, but nothing life threatening and a hell of a lot more fun than I ever have in a Spamcan or passenger jet.

G

[trafficcontrol]

ok Sorry.

:(

Just a personal opinion. No mean for any offence.

Sam

[Genghis the Engineer]

No problem, and actually it's worth mentioning that whilst the UK has a fairly strict approval system for microlights, in the US (historically, it's changing now) there's been no requirement for a formal approval of the design of ultralights. This has meant that whilst the best US Ultralights are stunning aeroplanes, there are a few bad ones.

If you can, grab a go in one or two - you'll find it an interesting change from your C152. The CGS Hawk that this fellow was flying isn't approved here, but there are plenty of others to choose from - try the couple of CT2K aircraft based at Booker for a start - if you want some real variety, follow it up with a go in the Thruster that Aerbabe and I share with 8 others.

G

[trafficcontrol]

You know just thinking about what you said! I will! If i get the Time and cash, i will Definatly try it some day, not yet though, cash is sort enough as it is :p

Regards

Sam

[Genghis the Engineer]

Pay !!!!!!!!

Microlighters are friendly, go and be nice to some. The odds of being offered a go are pretty good!

G

[AerBabe]

Although you run the risk of being 'gently encouraged' into a flexwing for a 'quick circuit' and finding yourself having an unexpected lesson! :D

[bar shaker]

trafficcontrol

The gentleman also had a Citation II which he flew when he needed to be somewhere. When he flew for fun, it was ultralights. Given his wealth and taste for enjoying life, I suspect that I would have the same aircraft if I were in a similar position.

Knowing this, it would have been more of a tragedy if he had died in his jet. At least he went out doing what he enjoyed.

Don't take umbridge though, you are not alone in thinking that ultra lights are dangerous things that go no where and make a lot of noise. The more pilots you meet, however, the more pilots you will find have spent some very enjoyable time in these machines.

[trafficcontrol]

Thinking about it, i can see all of your points very clearly, and i should have thought about all of it before i even posted the message, i can imagin them being really fun, i can. I apologise for any miss understanding,i don't think they are dangerous, not as such, but not my type of flying. I will give it a go though....In fact, i bet after all this it starts to grow on me. lol.

Kindest regards

Sam


Its such a shame to hear of events like these though. Like you say, at least he was doing something he enjoyed.