Plane hits car...caught on video
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Last Friday a similar accident happened at Knox County Regional Airport, Maine albeit the Cessna 172 was taking off at the time it hit a truck crossing the runway, killing the 3 people on the plane.... Here are some brief details, what's really worrying is that it was another pilot driving the truck across the field, the truck was apparently equipped with a radio.......
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The Pilot was on his Solo QXC, he was nearly at the end of his course. the biggest shame is that he decided to quit.
I think that, realistically, both parties shoulder an element of blame. The couple in the car (apparently) have never used the road before so were unaware of the risk with incoming aircraft, the pilot could have come in steeper and landed further down the runway....
Could have, would have, should have...
The most important thing is that he walked away. Instead of trying to speculate on exactly who did what, why don't we ALL take that as a lesson. Ultimately, a 4x4 driver with little or no interest in aircraft doesn't give a monkeys about the rules and safety procedures surrounding the aircraft. That falls on the shoulders of the PIC. If I had studied those plates I would have noted the road and adjusted my approach accordingly not to mention th efact that I would be scanning it consistantly on my way in.
At Shoreham, on runway 02, we have a train standing about 20ft high moving across the runway. I come in especially steep on that one... Also, I have not heard of any accidents with the Southern Service but I stand corrected.
Just my two cents.
ZuluPapa
I think that, realistically, both parties shoulder an element of blame. The couple in the car (apparently) have never used the road before so were unaware of the risk with incoming aircraft, the pilot could have come in steeper and landed further down the runway....
Could have, would have, should have...
The most important thing is that he walked away. Instead of trying to speculate on exactly who did what, why don't we ALL take that as a lesson. Ultimately, a 4x4 driver with little or no interest in aircraft doesn't give a monkeys about the rules and safety procedures surrounding the aircraft. That falls on the shoulders of the PIC. If I had studied those plates I would have noted the road and adjusted my approach accordingly not to mention th efact that I would be scanning it consistantly on my way in.
At Shoreham, on runway 02, we have a train standing about 20ft high moving across the runway. I come in especially steep on that one... Also, I have not heard of any accidents with the Southern Service but I stand corrected.
Just my two cents.
ZuluPapa
I've heard about displaced thresholds
Instructor tells student "you must aim a third of the way down the runway", old man in the corner say's "that's not true every time". Instructor "and what is your flying experience sir"? Old man "Flying F4's onto a carrier deck" his reply caused the instructor to stall!!
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Exactly. The use of flap is governed by the approach path required. We all know this, the flap is used to position the aircraft in relation the the approach. It isn't a prerequisite for the flaps be used in every landing or even take off for that matter.
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Last Friday a similar accident happened at Knox County Regional Airport, Maine albeit the Cessna 172 was taking off at the time it hit a truck crossing the runway, killing the 3 people on the plane.... Here are some brief details, what's really worrying is that it was another pilot driving the truck across the field, the truck was apparently equipped with a radio.......
At my field we recently had a case where a mother was bringing her son in for a helicopter experience flight and drove straight across the active runway as it was the "quickest way there", and she missed the signs
. Thank God there was no-one on short final or taking off at the time.
Avoid imitations
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Some people just seem to lack a sense of self preservation. A few years ago I was at Denham waiting for some passengers. They had arrived apart from one other individual who was late. The other passengers rang him and he said he needed some directions as he couldn't find the airfield. This was done but he had difficulty understanding them. Suddenly he said he could now see the airfield and was about drive into the car park. He was told to go straight to the hangars, which he said he could now see. We went round the main road side to look for him.
His car didn't appear, which was a bit of a mystery until... after five minutes he appeared huffing and puffing and wet through, from the live side, having climbed the boundary fence and walked across the entire airfield, including crossing the middle of the runway! The car park he'd parked in was nothing to do with the airfield.
As to his background, it wasn't aviation and he liked eating potatoes.
His car didn't appear, which was a bit of a mystery until... after five minutes he appeared huffing and puffing and wet through, from the live side, having climbed the boundary fence and walked across the entire airfield, including crossing the middle of the runway! The car park he'd parked in was nothing to do with the airfield.
As to his background, it wasn't aviation and he liked eating potatoes.
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The Knox County crash differed in many ways from the first incident we were talking about in this thread. It was at night. On takeoff. The driver of the vehicle was familiar with the airport, worked there and was a pilot, age 63. And the outcome was 3 dead in a burnt out plane.
Going back to the original incident, Piltdown Man commented that at his field for gliders to hop over cars is considered normal.
Any aircraft on approach into an uncontrolled airfield must assume the idiots on the ground, whether driving or walking the dog, are totally unaware of rights of way or the danger involved in crossing a runway.
In fact, in flying floatplanes, in Florida at least, the AIRCRAFT MUST GIVE WAY! because you must assume that any water traffic is unaware of rights or requirements, and that includes alligators, boats, jetskies, ducks or swimmers.
I also feel it is bad luck to film your loved one's approach, and in general we discourage cameras, as they have been known to jam controls, put pressure on pilots executing first solo landings, and interfere with the enjoyment of the experience.
Going back to the original incident, Piltdown Man commented that at his field for gliders to hop over cars is considered normal.
Any aircraft on approach into an uncontrolled airfield must assume the idiots on the ground, whether driving or walking the dog, are totally unaware of rights of way or the danger involved in crossing a runway.
In fact, in flying floatplanes, in Florida at least, the AIRCRAFT MUST GIVE WAY! because you must assume that any water traffic is unaware of rights or requirements, and that includes alligators, boats, jetskies, ducks or swimmers.
I also feel it is bad luck to film your loved one's approach, and in general we discourage cameras, as they have been known to jam controls, put pressure on pilots executing first solo landings, and interfere with the enjoyment of the experience.
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If the road had been outside the airfield boundary i would blame pilot.
If the roads inside then aircraft should have right of way and road should be signposted as such, in which case blame driver.
If the roads inside then aircraft should have right of way and road should be signposted as such, in which case blame driver.
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There's an airport community that I know of with the runway threshold very close to a public road. There is no signage that I recall. Cars don't stop and look and pilots stay on profile. Been that way for years without issues and common sense on the part of pilots has prevailed.
As a pilot, one can see the car approaching the threshold environment, but lets face it, drivers are not necessarily going to be looking for airplanes, and this driver may have been meeting someone for lunch at the airport restaurant for the first time while faithfully following GPS instructions. Who knows?
This video has been floating around the net for awhile, so there should be an accident report by now. Right of ways and rules are nice, but it is still incumbent on the pilot to see and avoid regardless of what the rules state. Its always better to be safe than legal. Safe is always my priority if legal conflicts.
Have at it, folks.
As a pilot, one can see the car approaching the threshold environment, but lets face it, drivers are not necessarily going to be looking for airplanes, and this driver may have been meeting someone for lunch at the airport restaurant for the first time while faithfully following GPS instructions.
Who knows?This video has been floating around the net for awhile, so there should be an accident report by now. Right of ways and rules are nice, but it is still incumbent on the pilot to see and avoid regardless of what the rules state. Its always better to be safe than legal. Safe is always my priority if legal conflicts.
Have at it, folks.
In the original post the pilot landed before the displaced threshold, the pilot was at fault, simple as. The displaced threshold is there because there is a risk of obstacles violating the approach surface. Whilst a private flight is under no obligation to obey the displaced threshold the original post shows the perils of doing so.
A moving car near an airfield with a displaced threshold is no different that trees or other obstacles on the approach path. The displaced threshold is there to prevent the aircraft and obstacles on the ground conflicting, as the previous poster stated, it is the pilot's responsibility to see and avoid.
A moving car near an airfield with a displaced threshold is no different that trees or other obstacles on the approach path. The displaced threshold is there to prevent the aircraft and obstacles on the ground conflicting, as the previous poster stated, it is the pilot's responsibility to see and avoid.
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moving car near an airfield with a displaced threshold is no different that trees or other obstacles on the approach path. The displaced threshold is there to prevent the aircraft and obstacles on the ground conflicting, as the previous poster stated, it is the pilot's responsibility to see and avoid.
I cannot agree with this! the approach and landing area belongs to the pilot displaced threshold or not.
The displaced threshhold is not there to allow two flows of traffic one aircraft the other cars at the same time and as far as I am aware trees are static not moving like cars?
In a perfect world aircraft will fly perfect approaches and perfect glideslopes and touch down perfectly on the numbers.
We know that is not the case. Aircraft unlike cars operate in a fluid airmass and move up down left and right and cannot stop!
Student pilots, wind shear before the touchdown, misjudgement etc etc etc.
A landing aircraft must have right of way over a car crossing the threshold.
The car should stop short of the runway allow the aircraft to land, check the approach is clear and then cross with caution.
This is not the fault of the pilot but of the car driver or the airport for not having enough safeguards like red green lights stopping cars crossing while an aircraft is on approach which is the case at many airports.
displaced thresholds are not there to give equal movement of traffic car and aircraft but to add an extra safety buffer against stupid car drivers!
Pace
Last edited by Pace; 1st Jan 2014 at 14:21.
I was close to such an incident a few years ago, and all the driver (a farmers wife) could see after the event was £ note signs!
