Richard Bristow Crash

[mooneyflyer]

I saw a report of Richard Bristow who crashed in his RV-6 yesterday at Petaluma.  Richard was a longtime Mooney Owner and friend to many of us.  Early reports were engine failure on departure.

thoughts and prayers,

phil

[PTK]

Horrific... may they RIP...

Thoughts and prayers for their loved ones they leave behind.

[carusoam]

Prayers,

-a-

[gsxrpilot]

Just tragic news. Richard "Yoda" Bristow taught me to fly formation. After trying unsuccessfully through several sorties, to get and stay in proper station keeping position, Yoda suggested a new way to look at lead and a new set of reference points. I was easily maintaining proper positioning from the next flight onwards and knew exactly how Yoda had earned his call sign. He was a true master at the three dimensional chess match that is formation flying. My thoughts go out to the family that Richard and Sue leave behind.

[FloridaMan]

News reports, which are often wrong, report that he tried to turn back. 

[Joe Larussa]

Richard was an awesome guy. When I bought my Mooney, he let me borrow everything he owned so I could overhaul my plane tip to tail. He was a wealth of knowledge and one hell of a guy.

[thinwing]

Never had the pleasure of meeting him ,but I think he was one of the RV formation guys that I've seen out of Ksac

[thinwing]

1 hour ago, Antares said:

News reports, which are often wrong, report that he tried to turn back. 

After reading witness reports ,Describing the right turn back to airport,dropping wing into a spin etc....cordwise crushing along entire leading edge,engine separated,crew compartment missing all the way to wing spar..whatever you do on a takeoff engine failure ,make sure you lower the nose and fly it down straight ahead using the last of your energy to avoid obstacles.RIP

[bonal]

I saw the report on the local news and there were a couple eye witness interviews stating a sputtering engine and an attempt to return to the field with what was described as a stalled wing.  Damn it really gives me pause when someone who has an incredible amount of experience more than I tries to push beyond the limits. Of course we don't know all the facts.

God speed and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and family. Rest in peace 

[donkaye]

2 hours ago, bonal said:

I saw the report on the local news and there were a couple eye witness interviews stating a sputtering engine and an attempt to return to the field with what was described as a stalled wing.  Damn it really gives me pause when someone who has an incredible amount of experience more than I tries to push beyond the limits. Of course we don't know all the facts.

God speed and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and family. Rest in peace 

Reinforces the importance of verbally reviewing your "engine out on takeoff" procedure on every takeoff.  I got lax on it myself, but recently re-established its importance.

Richard helped all of us when we started formation flying.  We would all meet at his hangar in Lincoln where he would give us water and we would go over both the preflight and post flight briefings so important in formation flying.  He willingly gave of his time and experience.  He will be missed.

[FlyDave]

I met Richard years ago when he was selling a F modded to a J. I was interested in the plane but ended up not buying it.  He was selling that plane to finance the RV he was building.

I was at Petaluma airport yesterday but left about an hour before this incident. I'm glad I wasn't there.

Best wishes to his family....

[Gary's Friend]

I have known Richard since the summer of 2002..
He  just bought a Mooney and proud of it.. I remember he went up and took a friend of his, as he flew over us about 200 feet, heading north west, the engine started sputtering, he radioed for an emergency landing and made it safely back.. His friend stated  it was his first time up and his last. back then we laughed as it was funny.. Things get funny after scary things happens, its our way of a relief from facing something critical..
It turned out it was his Magneto, the one i call the  widow Maker.. "Bendix Dual Mag" and it had the right side  gear chewed up..
we got a rebuilt one from Sky Ranch, installed it.. ran great..
I believe it was his first trip to Oshkosh, on his way back heading into Nevada, he was going to encounter a storm, the only safe way around it was through Area 51.. He requested permission to cut across it and it was granted and they gave him a heading, not to deviate.. he said the next thing he knew he had a jet escort across Area 51.. all we wanted to know if he got any pictures.. NO!!  the way he told us that story we were cracking up, mainly between ATC and him...
about 10 years ago he got a new Dynotuned engine he was all happy, it was  his new baby. You should have seen him all beaming with joy, if he had cigars  he would have passed them out.. Gary the I/A and myself installed his new baby..  Richard put enough hours on it for break in just in time for his annual trip to Oshkosh..
He went to Oshkosh and on the way back, around Vegas the engine started  acting weird.. and not running at full capacity, he made it to Sac Exec..
we started poking around the engine to see what was wrong and his luck was with him then, the New Engine's Cam was totally gone.. her called the company he bought from, he got another Engine , with more power..
we installed his 2nd new Engine and again he was like a father with a new born child.. all excited to go up and try it out.. 
he sold it and got involved with Lance and his Mooney, across from his hanger in Sac.. later they moved to Lincoln where  he was the most Happiest..
The joy and energy of him and being around him will be greatly missed..
 

[N9201A]

A longtime 201 owner with a wealth of Mooney knowledge, Yoda mentored many of us fortunate enough to call him a friend. I still wear the “West Coast Mooneys to OSH” t-shirts he would hand out in the North 40. This tragedy reminds us of the fragility of life, and underscores why we should appreciate every moment.

[kris_adams]

while I didn't know him I send my thoughts and prayers to his family.  RIP. 

[RobertGary1]

On 5/28/2018 at 1:45 PM, bonal said:

Damn it really gives me pause when someone who has an incredible amount of experience more than I tries to push beyond the limits. Of course we don't know all the facts.

God speed and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and family. Rest in peace 

Could have been turning back was better than a terrible alternative. 

 

-Robert 

[bonal]

Quite possibly true, no matter what a very sad bit of news.

[donkaye]

5 hours ago, RobertGary1 said:

Could have been turning back was better than a terrible alternative. 

 

-Robert 

Maybe, but...

[steingar]

Landing in trees under control beats a stall spin any day.  Just keep going forward and fly it all the way into the crash.

[Jerry 5TJ]

Departing 29 out of Petaluma there’s a soccer field on the centerline just past the street visible at the lower edge of the image.  It’s often densely packed with kids and parents.  

I resolved that, if the engine quit on departure below turn-back altitude,  I’d turn right about 20 degrees & go into the golf course rather than endanger all those people.  (I never liked golf that much anyway)

In 20 years of flying out of that airport I never had to test my reaction for real.   

Perhaps he turned to avoid a crowd of kids.  

[mike_elliott]

I received the following email from Dave Piehler when communicating with him about Richard and Sue. I encourage everyone to consider making a small contribution in Richard's honor. Excess funds will go to a charity of the family's choice. 

Godspeed Richard, Sue. I am honored to have known you both.

Mike Elliott

 

Friends,

We are all grief stricken by the news Ernie conveyed.  As tangible expressions of our esteem for Richard and Sue, we'd like to do two things:

1.  The Mooney Caravan organization will take up a collection and fund a plaque at the EAA Memorial Wall in Richard's memory.  The cost is $350.  We'll ask for the old school method of contributing.  Please send your check in any amount, payable to the Mooney Caravan, with a memo "Richard Bristow Memorial" to

Robert A. Davis CPA, Inc.
7475 N. First Street, Suite 102
Fresno, CA 93720

We'll also be accepting donations at Caravan registration in July, but those of you who won't be joining us this year can contribute by mail, as can anyone else who wants to help jump start the process.

2.  If you have memories of Richard or Sue to share -- text, photos, videos -- send them to me and we'll try to figure out a way to collate them into a coherent whole to share with the family.

Dave "Raptor" Piehler

Dave

[M20C_AV8R]

I am sorry to hear this and my sincere condolences to all of you who knew him, I too have lost friends in aviation related accidents and it sucks,, they just made a mistake or a series of them, and it went the wrong way. I always felt if they could talk to us again that they would want us to learn from them. I surely need to do a better job of briefing engine out on take off, and only hope that if I am faced with such a situation that I can use what I learned in training and from others success and failure to hopefully face a different outcome.

[Gary's Friend]

I called and talked to with a friend (doesnt want his name known) of Richards and mine on Wednesday, 13th..  Called him because I didnt see him at Richard's and Sue's Life Service on the 9th  and was worried he might have passed as it has been several years since talking to him..

He stated, Richard had fuel pump and carb issues and it seemed to have cleared up by Friday  May 25th when he landed in Petaluma..
Sunday Richard made the statement to a friend, the plane has never ran better..
Richard took off, as Richards wheels left the ground, Richards friend, that Richard flew in formation with, took off  behind him and watched as Richard went down..
My friend is in Contact with the FAA  and Richards Family,  he thinks we will never know what caused the crash..
 

Edited June 19, 2018 by Gary's Friend
to add subject..