Crash filmed from cockpit
 

Don't think I've seen this posted anywhere else.

Lucky guys

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=835_1344412426&p=1

Dear God..lucky to get out alive.

As for the reasons, where do you start..?

I'm not sure if the aircraft was "struggling" for height or if it was deliberately being flown low. If the former, well there were plenty of places to put it down, if the later..why?

Whatever the reasons, that is a frightening piece of video.

That is truly scary.

Judging by the length of the takeoff roll and that they touched down then became airborne again after takeoff, it looks very much like a performance (lack of) related accident. They were barely out of ground effect for much of the 'flight'.

Maybe high density altitude as well, by the look of the vegetation? The ground seems to be subtly rising as they fly into it, as well.

Plenty of opportunity to call it a day while they still had grass underneath. Good that they didn't try any turns, though... :ooh:

750XL

As you say lucky guys and one I'd not seen before posted on the net. Where and when did it happen?

It looks like an attempt to fly at perhaps over max gross, 4 pob plus, fuel plus cameras etc. on what looked like a warm day by the people just wearing T shirts. Add in perhaps a high density altitude (I don't know the elevation of the strip) and you get a recipe for disaster!!

The strange thing is that none of the occupants said anything into the mic, and there were no expletives or commands such as "brace"! The engine note didn't seem to change either.

The amazing thing is that the pilot didn't try and put it down sooner (before the trees) when the rate of climb was negligable. He was also lucky to avoid a spinning-in and a fire after the crash.

Even without the slow motion, just watching it I experienced a sense of time compression! There is a lesson it this video for us all ......pilots and pax!

MB

Original video comment
 

Lucky escape indeed; this one looks comparable IMHO but there were no survivors :uhoh:. Or does stalling vs. "controlled impact" really make that much of a difference?

That puts them in Idaho, where the *bottom* of the valleys are at around 4,500', according to Google Maps. You can see convection off the peaks that would naturally produce a bit of sink between them but "due to warming temperatures we had a hard time gaining altitude" explains most of it.

4-up plus luggage at a density altitude probably 7-8,000+, being propelled by what sounds like a boggo 4-cyl Lyc., probably not leaned out. Ouch! I'm surprised it got into the air at all! Well, I suppose it didn't really...

Edit: It appears to be a Stinson 108 with a 165hp Franklin 6 cyl. That's a BIG ask at that weight and temperature.

That's a very frightening piece of footage indeed. I don't understand why he didn't put her down immediately when it was evident that performance was insufficient. You could see it wasn't going to end well just looking at pilot's attempts to lift off...

According to NTSB prelim report (link below), the flight was operated near Bruce Meadows Airport (U63). Elevation 6370 ft..

NTSB preliminary report

EDIT: Maximum temperature on that day, in that region was 28°C recorded. That would put them at over 9000ft density altitude. Owch.

Sometimes the urge to press on overrides logic. It's clear that the aircraft was overweight for the density altitude, it's clear that performance was poor during the take off and there was plenty of opportunities to abort/land.

My Gut feeling watching that was Blair witch doctor something doesn't sit right people to calm !

of course I may be wrong (1st time this year)

I don't mean to be flippant, but I agree something isn't right with this. The way someone touched that guys face on the ground looks odd.

Density Altitude
 

An old FAA training video on density altitude, worth a watch.

Great film Cruise.....at first I wanted to shout HARRY THE BASTARD but glad to see common sense prevailed:p

Harry was flying an FTDK though...:E

Harry was flying the notorious Doctor Killer :sad:
The other films were horrific as they showed how awful an impact can be with trees and all that hard unforgiving wood.
It highlights the danger of flying low especially at altitude on hot days and areas of sinking air.
In conditions like that with low powered piston singles and low climb ability all you have is potential energy to get out of a sink!
low height above the terrain and minimal potential energy to tap into!
Anyone know of mountain flying courses in Europe? I did some on skis at Meribel France and may go back this winter as that was amazing flying.
Any other notable places :E

Pace

WRT mountain flying in Europe
 

One person I am aware of who is much into mountain and glacier flying is Hans Fuchs from Switzerland (http://www.gletscherflug.ch/glacierlanding.htm; rest of the webpage is in German). He should certainly be able to give you sound advice (and BTW he is an ex-racing driver, too ;)).

Just like the trap that Steve Fossett got into in September 2007.....

MB

The pilot is 70, in case that's relevant.

70-year-old Boise pilot listed in serious condition after plane crash in Valley County | Boise, Garden City, Mountain Home | Idahostatesman.com

SSK

No relevance whatsoever the only relevance is below

Elevation: 6370 ft. / 1941.6 m (surveyed)

Bruce meadows is a dirt strip the accident time was 1530 so likely above standard temperature.
The aircraft was four up so probably heavy without knowing the fuel state.
It is a horrible state to be in full power (hope he leaned?) almost zero climb struggling to maintain airspeed and avoid increase AOA and drag.
His mistake other than taking off was not putting down earlier but hanging in there on a wing and a prayer till he was over trees :(
They were all very lucky as they could easily have all been killed
One saving grace and credit to him is that at least he kept it flying into the trees! In such a situation it is so easy to stall spin trying to cling onto altitude

Pace

Just watched the FAA video. Harry was having trouble until someone pointed out that he (or his wife) shouldn't have left the whiz-wheel in the car! :ok:

Totally and utterly avoidable - c***k !