Mooney Crash?

[Led Zep]

Just had a yell to come and see "a plane crash" on the TV news. Caught the last second (literally) of it and it appears to be an M20 in red/white paint crashed in what looks like a creekbed.
From the second I got to look at it, it isn't too much of a wreck, but does anyone know if the occupants are OK and any other info?

[Gyro drifter]

Mate saw the news and seems to be a racwa plane VHECH and the pic was the CFI.

Gyro

[Chippie Chappie]

CFI still BH? Is he OK?

[Led Zep]

Oh dear, I thought it was ECH. Apparently EFATO, said CFI (not BH he is long gone now WB) and 1 pax escaped with minor injuries according to ABC news.
ECH looks a little bit worse that I thought.
They're all safe, that is the main thing. :ok:

[Chippie Chappie]

Thanks for the info. Good to hear that they're OK.

Cheers,

Chips

[Westaussielame]

I am glad to see the local TV crews kept up their high standard of reportage with one of stations reporting the aircraft as a single engine Cessna even though the aircraft had MOONEY in big letters down the side.One would assume its too hard to ask the news chopper pilot what sort plane that is ?
Glad to see WB and PAX OK.

[WannaBeBiggles]

I am glad to see the local TV crews kept up their high standard of reportage with one of stations reporting the aircraft as a single engine Cessna even though the aircraft had MOONEY in big letters down the side.One would assume its too hard to ask the news chopper pilot what sort plane that is ?
Glad to see WB and PAX OK.

Maybe it was a heavily modded 172 :ugh: :\ :}

[wigga]

gee.
I saw a group of WAAC students a couple of days ago on their way to Broome.. 3X172 and 1Xm20P (was red with white.. I think it was VH-SOM)..
Is VH-ECH confirmed?
Was it the WAAC guys?

[Led Zep]

gee.
I saw a group of WAAC students a couple of days ago on their way to Broome.. 3X172 and 1Xm20P (was red with white.. I think it was VH-SOM)..
Is VH-ECH confirmed?
Was it the WAAC guys?
No, but they tend to be the ones who bend the planes...or uni students! :}
Definately WB (pax may have been WAAC but that is pure speculation) and I have it on good authority that ECH was missing from the line today. And Geraldton is on the way to Broome...

But for all we know it could be one of those fully sick 172s with a subwoofer and lowered suspen...er, wings! After all, journalists know everything! :ok:

[Awol57]

Definately not WAAC, they are in Broome safe and sound. Yes SOM is in Broome, plus the 3 172's.

Was a pipeline run, pax was the company observor. Engine failure at low level, put down into a paddock straight ahead. Well done WB!

PS Yes it was VH-ECH

[Over and gout]

Thats interesting. I thought they always did the pipeline run in the 182, JDW.

[Awol57]

Normally yes, but its been out of action since September/October last year after it was put into a paddock wheels up. Still sitting in the hangar down at RACWA.

[Over and gout]

What a shame. I used to love flying JDW (its been a while) . Hopefully they will get it back online soon.

[wigga]

What a shame. I used to love flying JDW (its been a while) . Hopefully they will get it back online soon.
Ditto. Lovely machine.

Who was behind the helm? JD?

[Awol57]

JDW was a private hire, member coming back from a fly in at Perinjori (spelling?).

[Continental-520]

Yes, that JDW was a tidy rig. Wasn't that Dave Forrest's old one? Along with the now SQ BE58 JDN?

520.

[Led Zep]

JDW was a private hire, member coming back from a fly in at Perinjori (spelling?).
I know it was not a nice day for VFR, weather deteriorated and PIC carried out PS/L but unfortunately the field was full of rocks, hence the g/up choice. :ooh:
Shame because I agree with the rest of you - it was brilliant to fly. The O-540 sounded nice among all the 235s and 360s at JT! :ok:
Don't know about the ownership history of it, 520.

As a side note, I heard RACWA was using their 172s for the pipeline survey since JDW went offline? Make more sense too because you don't have a bloody great wing in your vision. :confused:

[EARTHQUAKE McGOON]

CONGRATS TO THE PILOT THAT LANDED THE MOONEY IN W.A. GOOD TO SEE THAT EVERYONE WAS OK.:) :) :) :) :) :)

OWEN
(archerfield)

[Awol57]

Yeah normally its a C172 or cross hired C182, CFC. Not sure why it was a mooney this time round.

The JDW day was not good, we actually had to leave 4 aircraft at another aerodrome and drive back to Perth because of the weather. Frustratingly enough for us, and I suppose for JDW, the day cleared up about 3pm.

[Over and gout]

.

As a side note, I heard RACWA was using their 172s for the pipeline survey since JDW went offline? Make more sense too because you don't have a bloody great wing in your vision. :confused:

I know they used the 172s for the short pipeline runs (locally & down the Bunbury) but maybe they used the Mooney because its faster??

It wouldn't be too much fun taking a 172 to Karratha return at 500' .......

[poteroo]

When the fan stops at 500 ft AGL, I'd rather be looking for a small, cleared, bit of terra firma in a common garden variety Cessna 172, than in a higher wing loaded retractable.

Read of a US veteran pilot who had clocked up 44,000 flight hours in Cubs doing pipeline patrols. He rather liked their STOL characteristics too. Often wonder whether he'd had the seat modified for additional comfort though.

happy days,

[tinpis]

When one flew a Mooney it had a peculiar gimrack arrangement for getting the wheels up and down.
A bloody great lever on the floor.
I doubt you would be able to wrestle with it and contend with an engine failure at 500'

Agreed on the Cub seat RV6 ,designed for squatting on for no longer than a half hour

[the wizard of auz]

Engine failure at 500 agl??. you wanna try one at 50 feet and in the low end of the ASI (never even scratched it. thats two now). 500ft is flight levels. If you cant get your firm brown collected at that height, you never will. :eek:

[tinpis]

I was thinking more of yer average aero clubber wiz :hmm:

[the wizard of auz]

Oh, sorry. :} :ooh:

[nicholas_hosties]

Hey Wiz,
When can I buy your autobigraphy, I can put it on the shelf next to my copy of Hoover and Fate is the Hunter.

[the wizard of auz]

On special at all good book stores mate. :ok:
Would be in good company on that shelf. ;)