Pilot DIES On Takeoff!

This was a tragic stall, spin, and crash on takeoff that didn't need to happen.

#aviation #airplanes #pilotdebrief

Video courtesy of NTSB.

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[pilot-debrief]

Here's the full tragic story:
The pilot is 36-years old and this is an experimental, amateur-built Wittman Tailwind W-10 airplane he recently purchased. He had 243.2 total hours with 22.3 hours in Wittman Tailwind planes, 3.2 hours of which were training. But only 1 hour of training in the accident aircraft. During that training he did 5 takeoffs and landings with the instructor, followed by 2 solo takeoffs and landings. The training did NOT include training on stall characteristics or recovery. When the instructor was asked about the pilot being able to keep the plane coordinated, she said he was having issues with that and did better on his last few flights. She kept reporting that the accident pilot had other time in the aircraft type, but it was over a year ago. The NTSB did not find any evidence of an engine malfunction or other problem that would have precluded normal operation. This is a very sad story and the purpose of this video is to help educate others in the aviation community, or those considering becoming a pilot, on the importance of training on stall characteristics, recognition, and recovery. A life was lost too soon and unfortunately a little bit more training likely would have prevented this mishap.

[IslandSimPilot]

It's absolutely stunning to me that any certificated pilot could do this. I don't care what airplane you're in, if you can't recognize an impending stall and just push the damn nose over, you don't belong in the cockpit.

[rvanoostrum]

I knew the pilot; we had the same CFI. Both of us received plenty of stall recognition and recovery during flight instruction. We had planned to go fly in his new airplane two days after the accident. In his last email, the evening before the accident, he wrote "I think you're going to be very pleasantly surprised at how it takes off and climbs.". My guess is that he was practicing a Vx climb, but failed to lower the nose prior to turning crosswind.

[gavanwhatever]

I struggle to understand how after 240 hours of flying the pilot is seemingly unaware that basic info like recommended climb out speed would be in the plane's POH. If he was struggling with coordinated turns after 240 hours, something is seriously wrong with either the pilot or the flight instructor.

[petesmith]

An Australian retired fighter pilot instructor made it very simple: it’s all about stick position. If it’s in your guts you’re stalling

[kbghjvt]

Again unacceptable!
With “240 hrs. of flight time” he knows stalls, period, it doesn’t matter that he only had “22hrs.” in this type and “3hrs.” of training… it’s a ridiculous excuse!

[KevinVenturePhilippines]

Wow, poor guy was going "Straight up" compared to what was needed. He had so much height he could have pushed forward so many times. He had to have seen he had no speed left at that attack angle, no? You can't fly and bank with no speed. So sad, RIP.

[matthewstimmel]

By the time I took my private pilot checkride, I had been asked about Vr, Vsw, Vs, Vne about 50 times by my instructors. What has changed in the instruction world?

[willowbruce]

I was an instructor in Gimli Manitoba Canada years ago and had an individual with an American Private Licence and upgrading to a Canadian Commercial. In Canada, spin training with recognition and recovery is mandated. I would heartily recommend flying with a certified aerobatic instructor if you have never experienced spins. Statistically, American pilots have accidents with overstressing the aircraft in spiral dives, while stall/spin accidents can still happen. Best angle climbs are fairly safe in ground effect. Once you have cleared obstacles, increasing speed and using normal climb speeds is highly recommended. My American student was surprised at the abrupt stall and spin entry using cross controls as he was not proficient using his rudder pedals. I feel saddened by these needless accidents and I feel for the surviving family and friends. I have had close calls experiencing wind shear and wake turbulence, I survived by instinctively dropping the nose and coordinating rudder inputs. I have had students pull back and using ailerons to recover from an incipient spin. This tendency is usually a result of the instructor failing to impart the correct skills.

[julzb]

Thank you Hoover for debriefing these tragic situations so hopefully others can avoid the same fate. RIP

[abingdonboy]

It’s shocking the amount of ‘training’ disparity for pilots out there, stall identification and recovery was taught within my first 10 hours and hammered in throughout. How you can get these guys again and again pull ridiculous pitch attitudes and low airspeeds just blows my mind and it’s a reflection on the poor training standards

First thing you do when you get any of the signs of a stall- UNLOAD, that’ll get you out of most stalls without doing anything else.

Genuinely tragic to have so many needless deaths

[carljh]

Aw, man! That really could and should have been a nice flight. I hope the pilot was the only one on board. RIP.

[peepers]

I love your videos, the analytic way you explain things along with the human feeling makes your work even more impressive. Thank you Sir. Stay safe out there

[channelshmanel]

It wouldn't have mattered if he knew how to recover from a stall. He didn't have enough altitude anyway.

[alfaeco]

I am always amazed by how much altitude is lost in a spin.

[jiboo]

I was trained on stalls on my 2nd hour of flight block and we did 8 of them power on and power off, it's very unfortunate.

[AnonyMous-jflc]

if you have that many hours and still struggle to maintain coordinated flight, flying is not for you. Anyone can be taught to fly but not everyone can learn to fly safely and correctly.

[johnforrester]

Everyone should start in gliders to understand the characteristics of flying

[DontTakeMeSeriously]

Rest in peace young Man....Still cool you followed your dreams....

[EnglishTurbines]

Some people just aren't cut out to pilot aircraft....He's one of was painful, so many opportunities to see the obvious