Mooney Down in TX - Pilot Okay

[mooneygirl]

Lord knows I know what he is going through.  I sent Tracy an email and hope that many will do the same.  With my 2003 crash now in the AOPA training circuit, I know that there are lots of armchair quarterbacks.

I did hear something that made me chuckle. Came out of the AOPA seminar in Santa Rosa, CA I believe. A fellow said I should have throttled back, aborted take off, and hit the spectators slowly.  Yeah, getting hit by an airplane slowly, that's the ticket.  HA.  All in all, we do the best we can. 

The media usually doesn't help us much, and again I speak from firsthand experience.

Kudos to you Tracy.  You didn't hit anything of real value, and you walked out.  I do believe in the strength of our airframe and it certainly led to a good outcome here and in my situation. As my father said, "There are no funerals being planned today. And it was a piece of metal, and metal can be replaced."

[aerobat95]

Kudos to you Tracy.  You didn't hit anything of real value, and you walked out.  I do believe in the strength of our airframe and it certainly led to a good outcome here and in my situation. As my father said, "There are no funerals being planned today. And it was a piece of metal, and metal can be replaced."

Well said Mooneygirl........

[N33GG]

Fact is, whether you have a Student or ATP ticket in your pocket, whether you are GA, Military, or Airline, and whether you have 10 hours or 10,000, and regardless of what you fly, every flight is an opportunity to get in trouble, and could happen to any of us.  Odds are, if you fly long enough, you will get your turn in the barrel.  And if you survive an incident, crash, or scary event, and you take it as a form of continuing education, it just might make you a better pilot in the future.

Very glad Tracy is OK, and absolutely no judgement or Monday Morning Quarterback here. 

Tracy: You are in good company here.  Shake it off, and get back in the air.

[thinwing]

Tracy,accidents can happen to any one...even those with lots of flight experience(ask me how I know)Believe me I know what its like to have decisions you make in a split second ,questioned.Try to put this behind you.Dealing with the ntsb/faa will not be nearly the big deal people say it is...just state what happened in your own words.All and all ,Id say ,if the only loss was a aircraft ..you came out ok...sinc kp couch

[scottfromiowa]

When I saw the pilot...and his daughters on the video I was just SO PLEASED that he can continue to enjoy life.  I just drove home from an appointment that took me to Wisconsin overnight.  Inconsistent roads on the way home.  I'm a safety consultant, but still found myself (after following a semi for several miles in right lane of divided four-lane...) making decision to pass up the hill.  Roadway had been clear in left lane for 1/8th of mile, but was inconsistent.  Of course as I started to pass and was midway down trailer the lane became icy and snow covered...Four letter word to myself for poor decision and a lift and return...behind semi.  He (pilot) walked away.  It's a learning experience with only property damage.  I had a gear up while under instruction.  Instructor pulled power on midfield downwind after two hours of instruction and a half dozen previous touch and go's.  I was focused on a displaced runway and making a great landing...She said afterward that she had "forgotten" it was a complex aircraft...

I have gotten winds (preflight, in flight, socks at airfields etc...) and had them shift and land long due to quartering tailwind/float.  "S.T.U.F.F" happens.  May I always be as "lucky".

[jmills]

Glad you're alive Tracy!

[DaV8or]

Quote: mooneygirl

Lord knows I know what he is going through.  I sent Tracy an email and hope that many will do the same.  With my 2003 crash now in the AOPA training circuit, I know that there are lots of armchair quarterbacks.

I did hear something that made me chuckle. Came out of the AOPA seminar in Santa Rosa, CA I believe. A fellow said I should have throttled back, aborted take off, and hit the spectators slowly.  Yeah, getting hit by an airplane slowly, that's the ticket.  HA.  All in all, we do the best we can. 

The media usually doesn't help us much, and again I speak from firsthand experience.

Kudos to you Tracy.  You didn't hit anything of real value, and you walked out.  I do believe in the strength of our airframe and it certainly led to a good outcome here and in my situation. As my father said, "There are no funerals being planned today. And it was a piece of metal, and metal can be replaced."

Jolie, what my friend heard was they were not second guessing that you should throttle back.  They were wondering why a pilot with about 7hrs in a Mooney would be flying 4 adults off a 3000' runway in August.

[scottfromiowa]

Sigh...If they are wondering "why", then why don't they ask the person that would actually KNOWS the answer?  I fly with four adults out of a 3500 feet runway in June, July and August.  Non event based on fuel on board.  I hope they are never in a position to be second guessed...I worry about the one's that lead the "perfect" lives the most....skeleton's you know.  Karma shall come forth with great vengence and furious anger and strike down those that spit forth gossip and judgement...

[N601RX]

Quote: DaV8or

 Jolie wrote a very good aritcle about this.  The FAA investigator actually complemented her on the flight planning.  If I remember correctly her dad was in the right seat and was a Mooney pilot for 30+ years. She made good choices that day, there just wasn't many good choices to choose from.

[DaV8or]

Quote: DaV8or