6 accidents in s.e. okla. this year, 1 fatality

[okla_ppc_flyer]

the first was a fatality this summer when a man and passanger snagged a tree and a limb pierced the pilot killing him.passenger was fine.hot weather and down draft might of been the reason along with unfamiliar short take off field.
the second was a man and his daughter flying his destiny near haworth when a down draft blew them into a brush pile.pilot recieved one broke leg and deep gash in the other, passenger cuts and scraps.owned ppc less than 5 months i beleive and it was a little windy and hot that day.
the 3rd person in broken bow added 2 bars in front with a plexiglas windsheild to his 50 hp sixchuter and took up a passanger on a day with lil lift on top of that, seen they weren't going to make it over the trees.he turned sharp and lost altitude.hit the ground and rolled upside down.neither hurt.
and the 4th was a man in his 70's in garvin who was either doing some touch and go's or landing when he bounced and decided to try to make it over the powerlines by giving it gas but didn't make it. chute got wrapped in the lines and melted but he fell the 20 something feet unhurt.
the other 2 were at the annual flyin south of idabel this oct.i wasn't there to see them,just heard.one man rolled his while taking off in his ppc he just purchased when the chute got sideways and he didn't let off the gas and pulled him over.no damage.the other guy was coming into land and got into some"dead" air and was slammed to the ground.only damaged ppc.it wasn't the best weather this year at the flyin so i didn't fly.

[Skypilot]

Thanks for the info. It appears all of these were related to mechanical and/or thermo rotor activity. This is a reminder to me at least to not become complacent about these issues.

[Dennis Bowers]

I beg to differ, Skypilot. Looks to me to be pilot error or poor pilot judgement as are 99% of the PPC accidents IMHO. (I'm gonna get hung out to dry for this....but here goes) .....downdrafts are an excuse for someone that isn't paying attention to the "feel" for whats going on and excersizes poor skill or judgement. DB

[ZipItyDoDa]

Looks to me to be pilot error or poor pilot judgement as are 99% of the PPC accidents IMHO. (I'm gonna get hung out to dry for this....but here goes) .....downdrafts are an excuse for someone that isn't paying attention to the "feel" for whats going on and excersizes poor skill or judgement. DB


I have to agree Dennis. The first guy took off and didn't have a plan already in his head about what he would do if he even SUSPECTED trouble. He was heading towards a tree or trees. Maybe it looked like he was going to make it, but with a passeneger you NEVER take that chance. You circle back, if you don't have enough altitude to circle back, then you just pull power and land. (Or have it in your head what you CAN do in this particular instance.)

But whatever you plan or do, DON'T HIT ANYTHING, because, if you have read the incidents database you KNOW that 99% of deaths in a PPC are from hitting something.

Having this "flight plan" set in your mind BEFORE you take off is the most important part of the flight! (Maybe thats what Skypilot was trying to get at with his post?) Typing with text isn't the best way to express yourself. ;)
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