This is a pilots site. As a pilot I recognise that flying can be dangerous. If an aeroplane similar to the type that I fly has crashed, I would like to know the details as soon as possible. This is not mawkish curiosity, but a simple matter of flight safety.

Chessman's first post. He didn't realise the avalanche of hatred that would fall upon him.

How many car crashes have killed people today? Every time we fly there is always the possibility of an accident but that is a calculated risk. Same risk for the PA 140 pilot. Frankly the sentimental RIP stuff is unnecessary IMHO.

First off, condolences to those who have been affected by todays accident. Sad news indeed.

Whats the big deal about a reg being posted? Sky have been blasting part of the reg to the millions on the news?

Sorry, but I'm on Cheesmans side. Like it or not this is a RUMOUR network. If you only want facts go to the BBC website.

Already been deleted from R&N by super-mods.

It's continuing in the Private Flying forum - and no doubt a "West Coast Mainline" forum (somewhere).

DO you only get facts on the BBC ?

So sorry to hear this news, on the start of a new year. RIP, I am sure everyone will be thinking of the families. Very sad.

It's not an issue about posting the reg, just the timing within hours of the crash. I just think it was a little insensitive to those who flew with the people who perished, who may indeed read this thread.
On a need to know basis we need to know why it crashed ASAP (I also fly a PA28) but do we need to broadcast the victims names yet?
Anyway.... it's hardly a hanging offence so lets move on & find out what happened.

and

Sometimes I'm not too sure if it's not the other way round :E

Seriously - I'm also with Chessman. If anything like that ever happens to me, please do post the reg - it will at least put those not affected to ease.

Not a great start to the year for GA. Guess the journos will now add train lines to the convents/schools/playgrounds, etc...

Posting a registration is not insensitive - it allows us all a quick verification either way whether we knew the a/c involved. Checking on flying friends and family is the reason I logged on to proon having seen tonight's 6 oclock news.

I'm with Chessman et al here. I don't think it insensitive to post information that's already in the public domain (TV news and the Sky web site, and probably elsewhere). What would be insensitive would be to speculate on blame, and no one's yet commenting on the cause, let alone allocating blame.

I am stunned! I believe this aircraft took off from sittles farm over my house this morning and then was pottering around the local area just as I left to go and book some hours at east mids.

Speechless...

Let's be sensible. If data is already in the public domain, reporting it here will inform only those who know of the network. An anology is when military personnel are killed on active service: the fact is reported and the name withheld until next of kin are informed. I would hope no networker would access G-INFO and then telephone an owner's spouse!

What will be more instructive for a pilot, is what caused the accident. Was it the result of carb icing?

(1) I doubt very much that we'll know for some considerable time. AAIB investigations are thorough, but not necessarily quick.

(2) Given how cold it's been, carb icing seems unlikely, there won't have been much liquid water in the air. Also PA28s tend not to sneak up on you like that with sudden carb icing. That said, I've no doubt it's on the long list of possibilities that AAIB will be looking at.


My sympathies, of course, to the friends and family of those on board. Not a good start to the year.

G

I also appreciate finding out Registrations as soon as possible once published. That area is also on the number 1 Cross country route from Halfpenny Green (Wolverhampton) and I know many Walsall based pilots (actually living in Walsall myself) who have shares in/or own Piper Aircraft.

It is quite common for News agencies to mix up the type of aircraft on early reports, so knowing it is not one of your friends as early as possible is quite re-assuring.

Meantime, my condolances are with the families and friends of those involved.

It looks from the witness reports that one wing dropped and it went vertically down at high prop speed.

Nothing left of the aircraft.

A bad and very sad start to the year.

Pace

Very sad start to the new year....


But as a pilot who likes to keep alive by examining accidents and hopefully learning from them, I'm puzzled by this.

We must of course learn from the AAIB report when it is published, but the accident site would look like a loss of control impact. No apparent mayday / PAN call, doesn't look like forced landing attempt, or maybe loss of control / stall trying to avoid relatively closeby houses.

LF

Insensitive and stupid comments
 

Read this on BT Yahoo News,I think her day has been somewhat less spoiled than that of the victims and their families.

What a ****. Who cares what peter kay has to say....sorry katy kay.

To say I felt sick when I saw the headline is putting it mildly. I learned to fly at HGFC and flew the No1 Xcountry route a few times so the possibility of it being someone I knew is high. I now fly mainly from Shobdon and I have a dreadful feeling that the aircraft was based there. I'm hoping I am wrong but I'm sure there is one with a very similar registration if it isn't that one. This would be the second person / aircraft I know which has crashed in less than 12 months with fatal results. My sympathy to the families and friends of the deceased. RIP.