Chris, aka dirtydog crashed at wrens

[BEN S]

This has been one of the nicest and most heartfelt threads of its kind. A real testament to Chris interaction with us all.
Perhaps this belongs in another thread, but has anybody determined a cause?
Sorry if this is in the wrong place,
Ben S

[choppergabor]

Well I did ask his Sister what the autopsy has revealed. I am waiting for her answer. As soon as I know I'll let you know OK?

[BEN S]

Ok...I appreciate it, I think all of us flyers think the same thing when something like this happens...."natural causes..natural causes...please be natural causes.."
Nobody wants to find some kind of aerodynamic anomaly that grounds an entire type of gyro, but if that's what it is better to know in advance, right?
Ben S

[Steve_UK]

Hi

Sorry to hear of this second recent US fatal accident - am I right in thinking this is a second non "N" registered gyro ( it does not appear on the NTSB listing for June ) - as such it might or might not get investigated- if it doesn't then the cause will not be known - this would be a real shame.

The earlier PRA Investigation Team forum thread got sidetracked into bickering here - I hope the PRA or another competent body get to investigate this and the earlier ultralight Honeybee G2 accident - facts need to be determined.

[choppergabor]

Yes Ben I for one hope from the bottom of my hearth that he did not live by the time the machine caught on fire. That is my hope as that would be the easiest thing to accept. Well under the circumstances.....that would be my choice.

[choppergabor]

Originally Posted by Steve_UK

Hi

Sorry to hear of this second recent US fatal accident - am I right in thinking this is a second non "N" registered gyro ( it does not appear on the NTSB listing for June ) - as such it might or might not get investigated- if it doesn't then the cause will not be known - this would be a real shame.

The earlier PRA Investigation Team forum thread got sidetracked into bickering here - I hope the PRA or another competent body get to investigate this and the earlier ultralight Honeybee G2 accident - facts need to be determined.

it was N numbered we had our machined certified together. I saw him signing the papers and getting his airworthiness sitting right next to me. If I am correct it was N1481

[gyroplanes]

Chris' accident was in todays FAA reports. It will be investigated, but who knows how deep.

May I suggest a very worthy aviation safety group that really, really needs money..... THE PRA !

[Steve_UK]

OK - yet to appear on the NTSB for June

http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/Ac...th=6&year=2012

[Dirtydog]

There has not been a caused determined yet. Still waiting for the accident report. Please keep Rosie (his wife) in your prayers. The Bowens.....

[Resasi]

Once again so very sorry for your loss and yes, Rosie is certainly included in our thoughts.

[NetPilot]

Originally Posted by Dirtydog

There has not been a caused determined yet. Still waiting for the accident report. Please keep Rosie (his wife) in your prayers. The Bowens.....

Bowen Family,

Thank you so much for taking the time to sign-in to keep us informed. I believe that I am speaking for everyone here when I say that we really appreciate you doing that.

Even if most of us cannot be by your side at the services tomorrow and Thursday, our combined prayers and thoughts are with you and Rosie around the clock.

God bless you,
Mark

[NetPilot]

J.R. and Tom, thanks much for your donation suggestions.

Turns out that I ended up calling Angel Flight today and found out that they are very much geared toward taking donations "in memory of" loved ones. It seemed so easy and appropriate that I went ahead and set-up a memorial fund there for anyone who wants to make donations in lieu of flowers.

If anyone else wants to make donations to Angel Flight, in memory of Chris, you can do this:

- Go to https://www.angelflightsoars.org/donate_now.asp
- Fill out your personal information on the first page and click Continue
- On the second page select the "In Memory Of" button and type "Chris Bowen" or "Dirtydog" into the blank.
- You can leave the "Notification" area blank. (Angel Flight will have this info)
- Fill out the rest of the form with the pertinent info.

If you prefer to use regular mail, just send a donation with "In Memory Of" information to:

Angel Flight
Dekalb Peachtree Airport
2000 Airport Road
Suite 227
Atlanta, Georgia 30341

I spoke to Jeanine, the Director there. She said that Angel Flight will send a weekly report of incoming donations to the family which will include names only and not amounts. They will also will send you a donation thank you letter. Donations are tax deductable and Angel Flight is a very efficient charity with 84% of donations going directly to the program. If you read some of the "About" info you will see that they do some pretty great stuff. Especially check out the Patient Letters.

Thanks,
Mark

[choppergabor]

Ok guys I got this info from Debra today. The medical examiner contributed his death to blunt force trauma. I disagree. Chris would have said he was having an issue and possible some cursing. I believe he had a massive heart attack.
We are leaving in a few minutes to catch a plane. We live in Texas. Missed our morning flight by 4 minutes. Service As far as I know they still have not released his body. My father made arrangements. We are going forward meeting @ the funeral home today, NeSmith Funeral Home, Claxton ,Ga. from 6-8.
Maybe you guys can schedlule a fly-over in his honor when we actually bury him.

[WHY]

Hi Chop

I can agree with the heart attack. When I was younger and used to hear about people having a heart attack and running into this or that with a car, and i wondered"why didn't they just at least turn off the ignition", if they could not use the brake. Well, when I had my first heart attack at 49, I quickly learned the pain is so intense it is TOTALLY PARALYZING, you can't move anything and barely even speak.

Tony

[automan1223]

There is a good chance that they ran his blood looking for reactive protein's and such markers for a heart attack. While I believe there are exceptions to the rule, it is a strong indicator. There have been many instances where people flopped over dead with no symptoms of any kind, strokes, aneurisms, etc.

I also wonder if they checked for a kidney stones. The pain is also intense, severe , and incapacitating and comes out of nowhere.

J