Body of Pilot found in Tennesse
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From: Rennes
Pilot ejected in mid-air from Zodiac
Last edited by Blind Squirrel; 31st March 2013 at 02:47.
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From: New Jersey
Body of Pilot found in Tennesse
Sad News
It was reported on USA Today that a Pilot Student fell 2500 feet when his Zodiac 601 nose dived and canopy opened. The Pilot did not have a seat belt on. The Victim fell 2500 feet to his death. The body was found in Tennesse, in a line of trees.
Apparently he had purchased this particular aircraft and was learning how to fly it.
Very very sad indeed.
It was reported on USA Today that a Pilot Student fell 2500 feet when his Zodiac 601 nose dived and canopy opened. The Pilot did not have a seat belt on. The Victim fell 2500 feet to his death. The body was found in Tennesse, in a line of trees.
Apparently he had purchased this particular aircraft and was learning how to fly it.
Very very sad indeed.
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From: ...back of the drag curve
Am I missing something, or does not wearing a seatbelt and then falling out of an aeroplane to your death indicate a lack of intelligence? A special commendation to the 'Instructor' who should check these things..
That's why aeroplanes have harnesses
That's why aeroplanes have harnesses
Last edited by 'Chuffer' Dandridge; 31st March 2013 at 09:03.
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From: High seas
"Am I missing something, or does not wearing a seatbelt and then falling out of an aeroplane to your death indicate a lack of intelligence?
That's why aeroplanes have harnesses"
I am guessing the descent from 2,500 ft is long enough for the poor guy to have been contemplating that!!
That's why aeroplanes have harnesses"
I am guessing the descent from 2,500 ft is long enough for the poor guy to have been contemplating that!!
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Lechlade, Glos.UK
Oh dear! Then my Uncle Derek was rather dull then:
Apparently my uncle was a boisterous young man (bit like me really when I was young!). It was these high spirits that led to an almost unbelievable incident in Feb 1942. On a training flight in a two-seater Stearman bi-plane, the plane suffered negative G. Having forgotten to fasten his seat belt, this catapulted my uncle out of the plane and high into the sky, many hundreds of feet above the ground. He flailed in the air for a few horrifying seconds and then started to plunge towards Mother Earth.
But by some amazing chance, he landed on the aeroplane’s tail!
As he clung on for dear life, his horrified instructor signalled my uncle to jump off. Unfortunately our wretched student was not wearing a parachute and thus the instructor was forced to make an emergency landing with Derek Sharp Senior clinging to the rear of the aircraft for his dear life.
This is a true story!
Apparently my uncle was a boisterous young man (bit like me really when I was young!). It was these high spirits that led to an almost unbelievable incident in Feb 1942. On a training flight in a two-seater Stearman bi-plane, the plane suffered negative G. Having forgotten to fasten his seat belt, this catapulted my uncle out of the plane and high into the sky, many hundreds of feet above the ground. He flailed in the air for a few horrifying seconds and then started to plunge towards Mother Earth.
But by some amazing chance, he landed on the aeroplane’s tail!
As he clung on for dear life, his horrified instructor signalled my uncle to jump off. Unfortunately our wretched student was not wearing a parachute and thus the instructor was forced to make an emergency landing with Derek Sharp Senior clinging to the rear of the aircraft for his dear life.
This is a true story!
Last edited by sharpend; 31st March 2013 at 17:52.
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From: Oxford, UK
Shades of Harriet Quimby.....
Several interesting points in the article; the INSTRUCTOR wasn't wearing a seatbelt either......
The builder of the Zodiac, 82 year old (!!!!!!) Clarence Andrews, was killed in December in a different plane - wonder if he built that one as well?
Harriet Quimby, as some of you may recall, was giving a joy ride to the Mayor of Boston over Boston Harbor; he was quite heavybuilt, and no doubt they were out of balance - tipped out of the aircraft, they died when they hit the water in front of a large crowd. Seatbelts unheard of back in those days.
Harriet hoped to win fame by flying across the Channel to France in a Blierot monoplane; but unfortunatly the Titanic sank that night, and grabbed all the headlines....
The builder of the Zodiac, 82 year old (!!!!!!) Clarence Andrews, was killed in December in a different plane - wonder if he built that one as well?
Harriet Quimby, as some of you may recall, was giving a joy ride to the Mayor of Boston over Boston Harbor; he was quite heavybuilt, and no doubt they were out of balance - tipped out of the aircraft, they died when they hit the water in front of a large crowd. Seatbelts unheard of back in those days.
Harriet hoped to win fame by flying across the Channel to France in a Blierot monoplane; but unfortunatly the Titanic sank that night, and grabbed all the headlines....
Life's too short for ironing
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From: Scotland, & Maryland, USA
Has anyone looked at the Zodiac forums?
Canopy opening in flight is apparently not an unheard-of issue. When it has happened before the nose pitched down about 60'.Lets say that happened in this situation, it's opens up to 70', he unlatches his seatbelt to reach up & grab it etc, etc, etc.
Just horrible, poor folks
Canopy opening in flight is apparently not an unheard-of issue. When it has happened before the nose pitched down about 60'.Lets say that happened in this situation, it's opens up to 70', he unlatches his seatbelt to reach up & grab it etc, etc, etc.
Just horrible, poor folks
Fleet Manager
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Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Ontario, Canada
I participated in initial flight testing of the first Zenair 601. I was unimpressed. That airplane, while being flown by my colleague to an aviation event, completely lost it's canopy (which is also the windshield). He landed without it.
I can't imagine why flying with no seatbelt, but I sure can imagine loosing the canopy on one of those, an a resulting loss of control!
I can't imagine why flying with no seatbelt, but I sure can imagine loosing the canopy on one of those, an a resulting loss of control!
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From: New Jersey
Body of Pilot found in Tennessee
Mary Meagher
I am not sure whether Clarence built Zodiac CH 601, although it is said that Chris Heintz designed the original Zodiac.
And yes, Clarence Andrews died in an airplane he had built, Cassutt was the name.
In his Eulogy, it was stated that he was an accomplished pilot and aircraft builder. He built two airplanes and that he was a successful Mechanical Engineer who graduated from Auburn and also worked with US Air Force from 1951 to 1955 as a crewman, where he developed his love for flying.
I am not sure whether Clarence built Zodiac CH 601, although it is said that Chris Heintz designed the original Zodiac.
And yes, Clarence Andrews died in an airplane he had built, Cassutt was the name.
In his Eulogy, it was stated that he was an accomplished pilot and aircraft builder. He built two airplanes and that he was a successful Mechanical Engineer who graduated from Auburn and also worked with US Air Force from 1951 to 1955 as a crewman, where he developed his love for flying.
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From: New Jersey
Body of Pilot found in Tennessee
27/09
Shouldn't this type of airplane with a canopy be flow by aircrew? Just asking, because often in the Media one hears, an airforce guy ejected from his plane before the pane crashed.
Shouldn't this type of airplane with a canopy be flow by aircrew? Just asking, because often in the Media one hears, an airforce guy ejected from his plane before the pane crashed.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 630
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From: UK
Some of the pictures of the aircraft after the event show a forward hinged canopy still attached although damaged along its back edge....
Authorities search for flight student thrown from an experimental airplane because his seat belt wasn't fastened - USA-UK News Online
Authorities search for flight student thrown from an experimental airplane because his seat belt wasn't fastened - USA-UK News Online
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From: Plumpton Green
The builder of the Zodiac, 82 year old (!!!!!!)
FAA Registry - Aircraft - N-Number Inquiry
That would have been one frisky steed with a Jab 3300 up front.
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From: Moray,Scotland,U.K.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Plumpton Green
These aircraft can be flown safely with an open canopy, if you follow the instructions in the POH, basically "slow down and don't attempt to close it".
Here is a video of what happens in a SportCruiser, similar to to Zenair CH601. I know how similar they are, because I built one of each.
Here is a video of what happens in a SportCruiser, similar to to Zenair CH601. I know how similar they are, because I built one of each.
