C182 crash lands on toilets - pilot uninjured
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C182 crash lands on toilets - pilot uninjured
I was watching flight operations at Thun Field (Pierce County Airport KPLU Pierce County Washington USA) May 1 at about 15:30 PDT. I had been watching two Cessna pilots prepare their aircraft for flight. It was apparent they were planning to fly together. I was standing at the fuel dock about mid- runway.
The first plane took off on runway 34 (3600 x 60) followed 20 seconds later by the second Cessna. It was clear and calm, about 72° Fahrenheit. As the 2nd plane climbed through 100 feet I heard a distinct clunk and saw the Cessna level out. At that point the plane was still over the north end of the runway at about 150.
Then the pilot tried to return to the runway. He banked 40 degrees left, let the nose drop and then completed a 240° turn while rapidly descending. The last I saw of the plane was as it disappeared behind the hangers to my north. I then saw a wing pointed straight up, a cloud of dust, and the vertical stabilizer flash over the top of the low hangar.
I rushed to the crash site and found the Cessna on its back facing NW. A few seconds later the pilot climbed out of the cabin and walked toward the half dozen spectators. He was apparently uninjured.
The reason the pilot escaped injury was that the left wingtip had impacted on a porta-pot (Sanican, Honeybucket, portable toilet) and caused the plane to cartwheel. The fortunate thing for the pilot was the area was filled with hundreds of the plastic porta-pots and the plane landed upside down on them and crushed quite a few of them, each acting as a shock absorber. Eventually the plane came to rest with the nose on a porta-pot and the fuselage on a 6 high pile of soft wood chips.
Here is a link to pictures of the porta-pot landing.
Seattle, WA News Channel - News in Seattle, Washington and the Pacific Northwest - KIRO
The first plane took off on runway 34 (3600 x 60) followed 20 seconds later by the second Cessna. It was clear and calm, about 72° Fahrenheit. As the 2nd plane climbed through 100 feet I heard a distinct clunk and saw the Cessna level out. At that point the plane was still over the north end of the runway at about 150.
Then the pilot tried to return to the runway. He banked 40 degrees left, let the nose drop and then completed a 240° turn while rapidly descending. The last I saw of the plane was as it disappeared behind the hangers to my north. I then saw a wing pointed straight up, a cloud of dust, and the vertical stabilizer flash over the top of the low hangar.
I rushed to the crash site and found the Cessna on its back facing NW. A few seconds later the pilot climbed out of the cabin and walked toward the half dozen spectators. He was apparently uninjured.
The reason the pilot escaped injury was that the left wingtip had impacted on a porta-pot (Sanican, Honeybucket, portable toilet) and caused the plane to cartwheel. The fortunate thing for the pilot was the area was filled with hundreds of the plastic porta-pots and the plane landed upside down on them and crushed quite a few of them, each acting as a shock absorber. Eventually the plane came to rest with the nose on a porta-pot and the fuselage on a 6 high pile of soft wood chips.
Here is a link to pictures of the porta-pot landing.
Seattle, WA News Channel - News in Seattle, Washington and the Pacific Northwest - KIRO
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C182 crash lands on toilets - pilot uninjured
He must have literally sh**ed himself.
BBC article with video.
A pilot in the US managed to avoid injury when his plane dropped from the sky after its fall was cushioned by a row of portable toilets.
The Cessna 182 plane had taken off from Thun Field airfield in Pierce County before the engine apparently failed.
As it fell, the plane hit a fence, flipped upside down and landed on toilets being stored near the runway by the Northwest Cascade company.
A company employee said the toilets had "kind of cushioned things".
Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the county sheriff, told the News Tribune newspaper that the pilot had reached an altitude of about 150ft (46m) when the engine "quit running".
"He tried to turn around and come back and land, but he didn't quite make it," said Mr Troyer.The 67-year-old pilot, who was reported to have been flying alone, has not been identified.
The Cessna 182 plane had taken off from Thun Field airfield in Pierce County before the engine apparently failed.
As it fell, the plane hit a fence, flipped upside down and landed on toilets being stored near the runway by the Northwest Cascade company.
A company employee said the toilets had "kind of cushioned things".
Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the county sheriff, told the News Tribune newspaper that the pilot had reached an altitude of about 150ft (46m) when the engine "quit running".
"He tried to turn around and come back and land, but he didn't quite make it," said Mr Troyer.The 67-year-old pilot, who was reported to have been flying alone, has not been identified.
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The "impossible turn".
My instructor always advised me against trying that "impossible" turn back at EFATO. I have since debated this with many people, some who claim that they would and could turn back successfully below 500 feet. I must admit I always brief that I will attempt to land ahead although at some airfields the options in front are pretty bleak.
I wonder if he spun in or just stalled before impacting the ground. The aircraft looks reasonably intact. I suspect he did not have much of a ground speed at the point of impact. The toilets were an added bonus I guess.
I wonder if he spun in or just stalled before impacting the ground. The aircraft looks reasonably intact. I suspect he did not have much of a ground speed at the point of impact. The toilets were an added bonus I guess.
Last edited by Michael Birbeck; 2nd May 2009 at 20:15.
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Covered in another thread.
TACOMASAILOR saw the crash.
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...porta-pot.html
Sounds like he spun in. Very lucky to walk away.
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...porta-pot.html
Sounds like he spun in. Very lucky to walk away.
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sh one t happens
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | US plane crash lands on toilets
is a story of a Cessna crash landing on some porta loos in the US.
Picture shows the aircraft upside down and so landing in the muck can be lucky.
is a story of a Cessna crash landing on some porta loos in the US.
Picture shows the aircraft upside down and so landing in the muck can be lucky.
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ANN had some fun with their headline for this story:
Powerless Plane Plummets Perilously, Pummeling Porta-Potties
Powerless Plane Plummets Perilously, Pummeling Porta-Potties
Definitely a crap landing!
Are you so sure it was a pile of wood chips he landed in?
At least he came away smelling of roses (not!!)
I think his friends will be keeping upwind of him for a few weeks!
"Hey, we're upside down" "How do you know we're upside down?" "Cos the sh*ts trickling down my neck!!"
Are you so sure it was a pile of wood chips he landed in?
At least he came away smelling of roses (not!!)
I think his friends will be keeping upwind of him for a few weeks!
"Hey, we're upside down" "How do you know we're upside down?" "Cos the sh*ts trickling down my neck!!"
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Hope he called PAN PAN......
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Land at your convenience
Ah yes but did you notice that the shi**y landing occurred near a place called Puyallup (honest!)
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Plane crashes into portable toilets
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Plane crashes into portable toilets
Great minds think alike 
