Fixed Wing Ultralight Crash

[barnstorm2]

Dan, one of my flying buddies here in Cincinnati went down just after takeoff in his 2-place Quicksilver fixed wing ultralight.

You may have seen him and his craft in some of my posts here on the forum. I would fly with him in 'loose formation' from grass strip to grass strip around southwest Ohio. He is one of the few local pilots that would fly during the winter with me.

Although there were several fatal and severe auto crashes this weekend in Cincinnati they were hardly mentioned but the ultralight crash was headlined on TV and the news web sites.

Dan, has a broken back, leg and fractured wrist. He had a stainless rod placed in his leg today and they plan on working on his back in the next few days. They expect him to be in ICU for the next week or so.

Current club assumption is that there was a mechanical failure. Dan has always been a very careful and conservative pilot.

[GyroRon]

Did he try to turn back to get back on the runway?

[barnstorm2]

Not sure.

I was not there and I have not yet communicated directly with anyone who was. I hope to get more details this weekend if I can make the meeting-fly-in

[Chuck Irby]

Tim, I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I'm glad it wasn't worse. I believe he'll fly again. How old is Dan? Let us know more as soon as you can.

[Chuck Roberg]

I just hate to hear news like that. My best to him and his family.

[barnstorm2]

Thanks guys.

He is 49. The nicest guy you could ever fly with. Always lending a hand and gas to anyone who could use it.

I sure hope he will be flying again after recovery. I don't know what his financial situtation is or will be after he gets out of the hospital. I may try to see if the club is willing to do a fund raser to repair/replace his craft should he wish to return to flying.

[Chuck Irby]

Tim, that's a real nice thought about replacing his machine. I do hope he will have the desire to return to the air.

[Screw]

Screw-In

My best wishes to him and his family Tim. Please keep us updated. You can't keep a good pilot down for long. He'll be back.

Screw-Out

[barnstorm2]

Dan's wife called Mark ( another club member that flys with me in the winter )tonight and seems pretty positive.
The back surgery only took 2 hrs instead 6 like they thought. They will get him to sit up tomorrow. Hopefully he will be out of ICU by Sat.

[Chuck Irby]

Thanx for the report Tim. That's good to hear.

[GyroRon]

Not to be cold or anything, but let's learn more about the crash. Did he try to turn back to the field and stall the plane?

[barnstorm2]

I have no details yet.

[barnstorm2]

Dan is still in an induced coma. Hopefully they can bring back in 4 days. Monday he started swelling really bad, they were concerned the colon would brust, They went in to do an emergency surgery. They found just a small hole and was able to remove it and repair him again.

[Chuck Irby]

Tim, thank you for the update. I believe he'll recover, it'll just take some time.

[barnstorm2]

Update from Dan's wife.

Dan is not off the ventilator.
He is takling to family and wanting ice cream..
He has an infection from the colon tear.
He is complaining he is hot.. SO she said it is good to see him be his old self.

[Screw]

Screw-In

Fantastic!

Screw-Out

[Chuck Irby]

That sounds real good, Tim. Thanx for the update.

[Kevin_Richey]

Not to be cold or anything, but let's learn more about the crash. Did he try to turn back to the field and stall the plane?

Tim:

If we could learn from the mishaps of others, it might help us in a similar situation. Any words yet from Dan as to what happened?

One of the reasons I got into gyros is the lack of stalling of a flying wing, like fixed-wing aircraft. Before I'd ever flown myself, I'd read of many stall accidents in the newspaper (and have seen the result of one) that killed those in small, private aviation accidents.

Another reason is the low inertia in emergency landings, compared to fixed wing, resulting in little or no injuries/fatalities.

Also, any word on setting up a donation fund for him?

[barnstorm2]

Kevin,

So far as I know he as not spoken about the details of the accident yet. No one present actually saw what happened. He taxied off and then when there was a loud crash everyone saw him down. I was not there.

Dan, Mark and I flew together most weekends through the fall and winter around south-west Ohio.

Dan and Mark have been friends for many years and Mark was present at the time of the crash.

Mark’s theory is that Dan forgot to turn on his fuel petcock, made a steep climb out and stalled. Thus resulting in the ‘lawn-dart’ configuration of the wreck.

As there are no physical facts to support this as yet I am hesitant to draw any conclusions as to it’s validity.

Mark told me he was going to quit flying and I urged him to put off the decision for a few weeks until things came into better perspective. I told him some stories about how I am still an avid motorcyclist even though I have witnessed two tragic motorcycle wrecks. He informed me via email today that he is selling his GT and getting out of flying fixed wing ultralights. ( see for sale section of the forum ) He is considering taking GA lessons and if successful buying a GA plane.

There is a collection for Dan’s family. As yet we don’t know if he will ( or can ) fly again but it seems his ultralight fixed wing is pretty trashed.

Donations go to:

T.U.P.A.
6194 Taylor Pike
Blanchester, Ohio 45107

Thanks for your concern. I will keep updating this thread as I get more news.

[GyroRon]

Tim that is a shame, All to often people make the assumption that GA airplanes are safer for some reason. They aren't IMHO. Other than the Cirrus how many GA planes do you know that have balistic parachutes???? And what GA plane will land at 30 mph?

[birdy]

I agree Ron,certification is no garantee for reliability or safty.[it dose keep alot of people in a job in this country with all the red tape crap though].

Sorry to hear about your mate Tim,hope he's up and about soon.

[Doug Riley]

I've lost three or four pilot friends in departure-stall accidents in the last dozen years. All but one involved GA planes, and in all of those GA cases the pilots took friends and/or family with them to their deaths. In two such cases, a teenager got away from the wreck alive, but watched parents or siblings die in the post-crash fire. Truly horrible.

A stable gyro really is significantly safer than FW in this respect.

[barnstorm2]

Ron,

Ultraflight Radio Address just what your post said this week. I will have to wait for the archive version later this week as I was at work and could not listen in.

Chuck Slusarczyk, CGS Hawk
In the wake of a tragic ultralight accident in Punta Gorda, Florida, pilot Richard Howe was quoted regarding ultralight flying that, "It's inherently unsafe.." Chuck Slusarczyk, a well know aircraft designer, joins us to dispute Richard's claim. In fact, in many situations ultralight aircraft can be shown to be far safer than other types of flying. www.cgsaviation.com/

Pity there was no gyro person to give our 2-cents!

[barnstorm2]

Doug,

Sorry to hear about your friends.

I have been very lucky so far in that autos, cycles and aircraft have not killed anyone I know, just injured.

[barnstorm2]

The TUPA newsletter editor just mailed me. Apparently Kevin and possibly others have donated to the fund for Dan. Thanks Kevin! This really shows how great the gyro community is. I am very proud. Official thanks will be published in the upcoming newsletter.