Captain Dale “Snort” Snodgrass USN (Ret)

[DuckDodgers]

This kind of sucks, Mr Tomcat himself has passed away.

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/dale-snort-snodgrass-reportedly-killed-in-idaho-accident/

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
It’s own appointed limits keep
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair
Oh hear us when we lift our prayer
For those in peril in the air.

[garyscott]

Hoser be waiting for another dress blues rematch. RIP Snort.

[megan]

Engine failure on take off being reported in some media.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/750x711/60fc88fbde874_image_c58d9e207954121dd54f4bba84f913911e614bbe .png

https://www.khq.com/news/police-investigating-deadly-plane-crash-at-lewiston-nez-perce-county-regional-airport/article_24d12b8e-ecc1-11eb-9557-531c73abbbf6.html

[treadigraph]

Have seen a theory that his seat may have slid back or collapsed. Whatever the cause, what a great shame.

[mickjoebill]

This aircraft for sale listing matches the registration of the the crash aircraft, includes pictures offset and seat rails.

https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/194412113/n28u-1977-siai-marchetti-sm1019b


mjb

[megan]

Typical Cessna seat rails, a number have crashed because the pilot has not ensured the retaining pin has dropped into the hole on the rail, result is on acceleration or pitching up is the seat slides to the rear with the resultant loss of control. Cessna introduced an AD for their models.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/11/08/2010-28158/airworthiness-directives-cessna-aircraft-company-models-150-152-170-172-175-177-180-182-185-188-190

[West Coast]

This aircraft for sale listing matches the registration of the the crash aircraft, includes pictures offset and seat rails.

https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/194412113/n28u-1977-siai-marchetti-sm1019b


mjb

Was an amazing little aircraft. I’m sure it saw many a dirt strip in Idaho and Montana.

[212man]

Typical Cessna seat rails, a number have crashed because the pilot has not ensured the retaining pin has dropped into the hole on the rail, result is on acceleration or pitching up is the seat slides to the rear with the resultant loss of control. Cessna introduced an AD for their models.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/11/08/2010-28158/airworthiness-directives-cessna-aircraft-company-models-150-152-170-172-175-177-180-182-185-188-190
I think it’s often the seat recline pin not engaged too - on rotation the pilot ends up lying flat on their back.

[megan]

He tells his aviation story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQZ0Q6anxbo

[SpannerInTheWerks]

I think it’s often the seat recline pin not engaged too - on rotation the pilot ends up lying flat on their back.

I've studied the video of the accident many times and although the quality is poor due to the camera and distance away, it does appear as though the pilot's head disappears from view in the later seconds of the video.

Who on the YouTube video says "check .. . check" ... ?!

As a flying instructor it is hard to comprehend that he would not instinctively checked for 'full and free' movement of the controls or that the seat pins were in place by rocking on the seat.

A sad day for sure.

[etudiant]

I've studied the video of the accident many times and although the quality is poor due to the camera and distance away, it does appear as though the pilot's head disappears from view in the later seconds of the video.

Who on the YouTube video says "check .. . check" ... ?!

As a flying instructor it is hard to comprehend that he would not instinctively checked for 'full and free' movement of the controls or that the seat pins were in place by rocking on the seat.

A sad day for sure.

If memory serves, this particular seat latch defect caused so much legal woe to Cessna that is almost bankrupted them.
IIrc, the eventual deal was an 18 year statute of repose, so Cessna would no longer be liable beyond that period for any such deficiencies.
That said, it is an insidious defect, more than a little comparable to any of the 'Fate is the Hunter' examples.
Who actually rocks back and forth to check if the seat is properly secured?

[typerated]

If memory serves, this particular seat latch defect caused so much legal woe to Cessna that is almost bankrupted them.
IIrc, the eventual deal was an 18 year statute of repose, so Cessna would no longer be liable beyond that period for any such deficiencies.
That said, it is an insidious defect, more than a little comparable to any of the 'Fate is the Hunter' examples.
Who actually rocks back and forth to check if the seat is properly secured?
Me!
I've slid backwards on rotation in a Cessna - fortunately maintained control though
I was sure I had checked but it was evidently not good enough.
Don't fly Cessna's very often but very anal on this would you believe!

[treadigraph]

Appears he left the control lock in place...

https://t.co/87DqSY8F5k

[sandiego89]

Control lock engaged. Apparently with the control lock engaged it allows just enough rudder movement to taxi the aircraft (combined with differential braking) but no elevator/aileron movement.

story with viewer and link to NTSB report

https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/accidents-ntsb/ntsb-cites-failure-to-remove-control-lock-in-snodgrass-crash/ (https://safe.menlosecurity.com/doc/docview/viewer/docN6A88351C2A24379967b262dddadb6665ce58c109ab20fda26b9202c7 c2ba3afe215f4649ea41)

[Liffy 1M]

A good summary here: https://youtu.be/9LY4dngI17c

[avionimc]

And interview with NTSB Bruce Landsberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjZQM2MeqIQ