Real forced landings with animals in the field
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Real forced landings with animals in the field
While it is asking for trouble to practice a forced landing to low level once you see animals in the chosen field, do they make it a no-go for a real forced landing? They are more likely to get out of your way than trees. I would probably continue with sheep, or even cattle, if the only option was almost certainly hitting something solid.
AAIB bulletin 1 2010. G-LNYS Cessna 177 engine failure
“As the aircraft approached the pilot’s initial choice of field, it became apparent to him that it contained livestock and was, therefore, unsuitable.”
AAIB bulletin 1 2010. G-LNYS Cessna 177 engine failure
“As the aircraft approached the pilot’s initial choice of field, it became apparent to him that it contained livestock and was, therefore, unsuitable.”
Even if you miss the blighters, cattle will also after the initial surprise make every attempt to use your aircraft as a salt-lick and scratching post. If it's fabric covered, you're almost certainly in for some very expensive repairs.
If forced into a field with cattle, either have a couple of people guarding the aircraft, push it immediately out of the field through a gate - anything to keep the sandpaper tongues away from your aeroplane.
Sheep aren't too much of a problem so long as you can find a line between them.
G
If forced into a field with cattle, either have a couple of people guarding the aircraft, push it immediately out of the field through a gate - anything to keep the sandpaper tongues away from your aeroplane.
Sheep aren't too much of a problem so long as you can find a line between them.
G
Cows and forced landings
Cows are pretty slow, very unlikely to get out of your way.. 
Air Accidents Investigation: DH82A Tiger Moth, G-AHVV
YouTube - plane hits cow (with slow motion)... "Cows" by the Suburbs
Air Accidents Investigation: DH82A Tiger Moth, G-AHVV
YouTube - plane hits cow (with slow motion)... "Cows" by the Suburbs
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Most forced landings are due to an engine failure of some sort. That means your engine is stopped, and they won't hear you coming, let alone recognise the aerodynamic noise as some sort of threat. I doubt whether your average cow or sheep would actually attempt to get away from your flight path.
In fact, I think you'll find many humans will not even recognise the danger you pose, even if you're flying directly towards them and they see you coming. I guess humans have never had to be wary of danger coming from the skies since the Jurassic era, so we're conditioned to look up with awe, not fright.
You'd have to be on fire and/or out of control to have any chance of your emergency being recognised for what it is.
I remembered a line in an ops manual somewhere about the pilot being authorised, without consulting the owner and/or the insurance, to hire a security firm on the spot, after an emergency or precautionary landing in a field, to guard the aircraft. Against both cows and vandals.
In fact, I think you'll find many humans will not even recognise the danger you pose, even if you're flying directly towards them and they see you coming. I guess humans have never had to be wary of danger coming from the skies since the Jurassic era, so we're conditioned to look up with awe, not fright.
You'd have to be on fire and/or out of control to have any chance of your emergency being recognised for what it is.
If forced into a field with cattle, either have a couple of people guarding the aircraft, push it immediately out of the field through a gate - anything to keep the sandpaper tongues away from your aeroplane.
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I reckon hitting a large cow might be worse than hitting the tops of trees.
But once he picked his field he was lucky to be able to pick another one during the last few seconds.
But once he picked his field he was lucky to be able to pick another one during the last few seconds.
If there's a field with lots of cows and another with just one cow, you may prefer dealing with several cows rather than one bull
Fields with livestock are typically uncultivated and tend to have rocks, dips and other things to mess up your landing.
Fields with livestock are typically uncultivated and tend to have rocks, dips and other things to mess up your landing.
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I understand there were cows in this field. (Light plane makes emergency landing in field.)
Plane makes emergency landing in Flagler - FOX30Jax.com - WAWS FOX30
Plane makes emergency landing in Flagler - FOX30Jax.com - WAWS FOX30
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I have landed my glider in fields with stock on several occasions. As far as I could, I followed advice that I was given by other people, but I've now done it myself more times than any of the instructors who were guiding me at the time. For what it's worth, my observations are as follows.
The priorities are to preserve human safety first, and the aircraft and animals after that. The owner of the animals probably regards them as higher priority than your aircraft.
One cow in a field is bad news. It's not a cow, it's a bull. If you really have to end up there, keep the aircraft between you and the bull, let him have it if he wants it, don't make eye contact with him, and probably get out of the field as soon as you can.
I once landed in a field which apparently had only one cow, and it was indeed a bull. It turned out that there were many cows in the field as well, but they were all at one side listening to something more interesting in the next field until I arrived. Then they all headed for the glider. I did a sort of war dance around the glider, shouting at the cows and waving at them to keep them away from it. I decided if the bull wanted it, he could have it. Eventually a neighbouring farmer arrived, who helped me make it safe. He told me about not making eye contact with the bull - it turned out he had had a Land Rover once, as he thought the headlights were eyes staring at him. In my case, the bull never came particularly near, so was not a problem. Bulls with cows are likely to be more docile than when on their own, I am told.
A field that you can see has cows in it will probably have the herd loosely together. One of the dangers is that they can decide to move to a different part of the field during the course of your approach. In a forced landing there is no go around option. This can really spoil your day. Nevertheless, sometimes it is the only option to go for a field with cows, and hope to find enough room to get down safely.
In my limited experience, sheep also tend to stay loosely as a flock in one part of the field, but again they can suddenly decide to move to a different part. The only time I landed in a field with sheep, they were at the far end at first, and started heading for my bit that I was landing in as I came in at the last minute. Fortunately, I stopped before I reached them. They are easier to chase away than cows.
Horses tend to be far more excitable than sheep or cows. They can also be extremely valuable. If they are in foal, there is a danger according to owners that they can drop it early, which can really make a hole in your insurance if it all goes wrong. The only time I landed in a field with horses in, the landlord was most displeased. As it turned out, there was no damage whatsoever, but I would always avoid them if possible.
I have heard of someone landing in a lion enclosure at an open zoo, or Longleat, or somewhere like that. Apparently, the thing to do is to stay in the glider or aircraft, which they don't perceive as being a meat source, and hope you survive until the wardens arrive.
I have no experience of llamas, deer, or any other kinds of livestock.
Chris N.
The priorities are to preserve human safety first, and the aircraft and animals after that. The owner of the animals probably regards them as higher priority than your aircraft.
One cow in a field is bad news. It's not a cow, it's a bull. If you really have to end up there, keep the aircraft between you and the bull, let him have it if he wants it, don't make eye contact with him, and probably get out of the field as soon as you can.
I once landed in a field which apparently had only one cow, and it was indeed a bull. It turned out that there were many cows in the field as well, but they were all at one side listening to something more interesting in the next field until I arrived. Then they all headed for the glider. I did a sort of war dance around the glider, shouting at the cows and waving at them to keep them away from it. I decided if the bull wanted it, he could have it. Eventually a neighbouring farmer arrived, who helped me make it safe. He told me about not making eye contact with the bull - it turned out he had had a Land Rover once, as he thought the headlights were eyes staring at him. In my case, the bull never came particularly near, so was not a problem. Bulls with cows are likely to be more docile than when on their own, I am told.
A field that you can see has cows in it will probably have the herd loosely together. One of the dangers is that they can decide to move to a different part of the field during the course of your approach. In a forced landing there is no go around option. This can really spoil your day. Nevertheless, sometimes it is the only option to go for a field with cows, and hope to find enough room to get down safely.
In my limited experience, sheep also tend to stay loosely as a flock in one part of the field, but again they can suddenly decide to move to a different part. The only time I landed in a field with sheep, they were at the far end at first, and started heading for my bit that I was landing in as I came in at the last minute. Fortunately, I stopped before I reached them. They are easier to chase away than cows.
Horses tend to be far more excitable than sheep or cows. They can also be extremely valuable. If they are in foal, there is a danger according to owners that they can drop it early, which can really make a hole in your insurance if it all goes wrong. The only time I landed in a field with horses in, the landlord was most displeased. As it turned out, there was no damage whatsoever, but I would always avoid them if possible.
I have heard of someone landing in a lion enclosure at an open zoo, or Longleat, or somewhere like that. Apparently, the thing to do is to stay in the glider or aircraft, which they don't perceive as being a meat source, and hope you survive until the wardens arrive.
I have no experience of llamas, deer, or any other kinds of livestock.
Chris N.
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Down in the lions' den
Hi chrisN,
In about 1967 I was gliding at London Gliding Club at Dunstable Downs, which is quite close to Whipsnade Zoo. Even when I was there, there were stories doing the rounds about people landing in Whipsnade.
However, I just don't know whether any of these tales were true because nobody ever seemed to be able to name the people to whom these adventures had allegedly happened or to give any further details of the episode concerned.
One tale was of someone landing in the lions' den after closing time and having to spend the night in his glider, during which a lion sniffed at it from outside. Another tale was of someone landing in with the wallabies.
If there is anybody reading this post, who is a current member of LGC, perhaps they would care to ask the man who was the CFI and manager at the time and is, I believe, still a well known member of the club today. If anybody is going to know the truth of these apocryphal stories it will be him.
Broomstick.
I have heard of someone landing in a lion enclosure at an open zoo, or Longleat, or somewhere like that. Apparently, the thing to do is to stay in the glider or aircraft, which they don't perceive as being a meat source, and hope you survive until the wardens arrive.
However, I just don't know whether any of these tales were true because nobody ever seemed to be able to name the people to whom these adventures had allegedly happened or to give any further details of the episode concerned.
One tale was of someone landing in the lions' den after closing time and having to spend the night in his glider, during which a lion sniffed at it from outside. Another tale was of someone landing in with the wallabies.
If there is anybody reading this post, who is a current member of LGC, perhaps they would care to ask the man who was the CFI and manager at the time and is, I believe, still a well known member of the club today. If anybody is going to know the truth of these apocryphal stories it will be him.
Broomstick.
Last edited by BroomstickPilot; 16th Jan 2010 at 09:53. Reason: Take someon's name out
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As a pilot and as a person who was raised and still live on a farm, can I make the following observations:
1. This point is academic, but worth making.... A COW cannot be a BULL !
A COW is a Female bovine animal, a BULL on the other hand is male.....
Collectively they are cattle, the amount of people who I hear stating "look at the lovely cows" when they are in fact looking at a field of bulls, well were at one time bulls, now with their nuts rendered inoperative !... so Bullocks.... (not to you lot, they really are bullocks)
2. People say that a field with a Bull can be dangerous, is true in some circumstances.... A solitary bull in a field with no female animals near is more than likely to go lie at the other end of the field from you.... On the other hand if you were to end up in a field with a Bull who is there to "take care of business" with cows (see, Female... all making sense now fellas) you may get more than you bargained for... he will do all he can to protect his girls.
3. The most dangerous cattle you will end up with is a COW (Female.... keep reading, it gets better) with a calf at foot, she is in every likelihood going to attack to protect her young, especially if she perceives you as a threat, and yes a solitary cow in a field seeing a large bird arriving will be inquisitive and VERY protective of her young.
To my cost I know this, I was reared on a farm where many hundred cattle were reared and I was nearly killed with a solitary Cow with a calf at foot, ended up in hospital for weeks with broken ribs and arms, only for the fast actions of a farmworker who actually killed her with a tractor I would have been gone.
Many years later my late father nearly suffered the same fate, but this time it was a bull, he went into a yard with a bull and a few cows, the bull attacked and he was lucky to escape with his life.
So, there is mis-conceptions there, but do treat cattle with caution, the fact that everyone thinks a BULL is dangerous is to an extent true, but a COW can be much more dangerous..... Waving a "red rag to a bull", another myth, they are colour blind, but waving any colour of rag to a bull should be at best avoided, unless of course you live in Spain and frequent a large circular structure dressed like a ponce.
Jon
1. This point is academic, but worth making.... A COW cannot be a BULL !
A COW is a Female bovine animal, a BULL on the other hand is male.....
Collectively they are cattle, the amount of people who I hear stating "look at the lovely cows" when they are in fact looking at a field of bulls, well were at one time bulls, now with their nuts rendered inoperative !... so Bullocks.... (not to you lot, they really are bullocks)
2. People say that a field with a Bull can be dangerous, is true in some circumstances.... A solitary bull in a field with no female animals near is more than likely to go lie at the other end of the field from you.... On the other hand if you were to end up in a field with a Bull who is there to "take care of business" with cows (see, Female... all making sense now fellas) you may get more than you bargained for... he will do all he can to protect his girls.
3. The most dangerous cattle you will end up with is a COW (Female.... keep reading, it gets better) with a calf at foot, she is in every likelihood going to attack to protect her young, especially if she perceives you as a threat, and yes a solitary cow in a field seeing a large bird arriving will be inquisitive and VERY protective of her young.
To my cost I know this, I was reared on a farm where many hundred cattle were reared and I was nearly killed with a solitary Cow with a calf at foot, ended up in hospital for weeks with broken ribs and arms, only for the fast actions of a farmworker who actually killed her with a tractor I would have been gone.
Many years later my late father nearly suffered the same fate, but this time it was a bull, he went into a yard with a bull and a few cows, the bull attacked and he was lucky to escape with his life.
So, there is mis-conceptions there, but do treat cattle with caution, the fact that everyone thinks a BULL is dangerous is to an extent true, but a COW can be much more dangerous..... Waving a "red rag to a bull", another myth, they are colour blind, but waving any colour of rag to a bull should be at best avoided, unless of course you live in Spain and frequent a large circular structure dressed like a ponce.
Jon
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Broomstick, Hi. We heard the same tales, but I am not an LGC member, so you may have better connections.
I did have a syndicate colleague who landed at Twycross Zoo, but that was in the car park.
Chris N.
I did have a syndicate colleague who landed at Twycross Zoo, but that was in the car park.
Chris N.
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I dont think id be in the slightest bit concerned about the animals in the field after a forced landing. My main aim would be to try and avoid hitting one on the approach.
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Walked through a field containing several bulls and no cows the other day - no problem at all. (It possibly helped that the farmer was with us.)
Re cows and calves, he told us that they go in for baby sitting circles. You'll get a couple of cows looking after several calves whilst the other mothers are off doing other things. The other mothers would no doubt reappear rapidly if they thought there was any threat.
Re cows and calves, he told us that they go in for baby sitting circles. You'll get a couple of cows looking after several calves whilst the other mothers are off doing other things. The other mothers would no doubt reappear rapidly if they thought there was any threat.
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Attempting the 50 k from Booker to Lasham in a K8 (very basic single seat glider) was getting lower and lower instead of higher and higher, so at about 1,000 chose a very nice field, into wind, good size, smooth short grass. No, it wasn't a golf course. I landed in the middle, as one does. Opened the canopy and prepared to clamber out, when what I had thought were shadows under the trees stood up and ambled over to investigate.
There were 30 of them. I had plenty of time to count them. They were probably Aberdeen Angus, so nice and quiet. Yearlings, well grown. And very well endowed. All of them.
Yes, used to work with cattle. (not referring to glider pilots this time...)
Spent the next 30 minutes running around the glider yelling and waving my arms to keep the bulls from walking over the wings, until a chap driving by stopped to help; we pushed the glider into a corner, easier to defend, and my hero even went off and found the farmer, who turned up and moved the bulls into another field. And took me to his farmhouse for a cup of tea, while I waited for my crew to turn up with the trailer.
Happy ending!
We do get exercise, flying gliders.
There were 30 of them. I had plenty of time to count them. They were probably Aberdeen Angus, so nice and quiet. Yearlings, well grown. And very well endowed. All of them.
Yes, used to work with cattle. (not referring to glider pilots this time...)
Spent the next 30 minutes running around the glider yelling and waving my arms to keep the bulls from walking over the wings, until a chap driving by stopped to help; we pushed the glider into a corner, easier to defend, and my hero even went off and found the farmer, who turned up and moved the bulls into another field. And took me to his farmhouse for a cup of tea, while I waited for my crew to turn up with the trailer.
Happy ending!
We do get exercise, flying gliders.
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Going back to the original question in the forum, if you're at the point where you're making a final approach into a field because of a real forced landing, I'd suggest that continuing into the field, even if livestock suddenly appear, is a better choice than trying to choose a different field at the last minute (unless you'd already kept the option in mind). I know of two pilots who were doing forced landings in fields who changed their mind at the last minute. In one case they managed to climb out of the ensuing wreckage after hitting a tree in the field that tney hadn't initiallly planned to land in (after being distracted by the presence of livestock in the field they originally chose). In the other they 'got away with it' and probably left various brown marks in the cockpit.
To Chris N, et al....thanks for the amusing anecdotes!
To Chris N, et al....thanks for the amusing anecdotes!
My Ancient Glider Instructor Likes to Say
Better a good approach into a poor field than a poor approach into a good field.
aka. Don't be changing your mind after turning final.
Of course one does pick the best possible spot.
aka. Don't be changing your mind after turning final.
Of course one does pick the best possible spot.
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it really wouldn't be your day if that nice big field turned out to be a safari park........
