Plane down - another "tin hat" theory.

[Richard]

Here's another good reason to buy stock in Alcoa.

Richard's $.02
**********
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?C...-707712b1f8c7&

Non-Profit Group Suspects Foul Play, Calls For Complete Investigation
Aero-News.Net
22 Dec 2008

A Piper Saratoga on approach to the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) about 6 pm Friday went down about three miles short of the runway, taking the life of Michael Connell, the pilot and sole occupant of the plane.

Nearby resident Taylor Fano heard the crash and said, "It blew up and shook the ground a little bit. I was standing in the kitchen and I looked out the window and all I saw was fire," the Akron Beacon Journal reported.

"It took out the flagpole and the cement blocks surrounding the flagpole like a little planter," Fano said. "It skidded across the driveway and right in between a line of pine trees and a small fence around an in-ground pool."

Capt. Lorin Geiser of the Greentown Fire Department said he arrived on the scene about three minutes after the crash was reported to 911 operators. The wrecked plane was fully engulfed in flames, which were quickly extinguished.

The 1997 PA-32R-301T, registered to Richfield corporation Sierra-November Aviation, was enroute from College Park, MD to Akron on an IFR flight plan. Kristie Van Auken, spokeswoman for Akron-Canton Airport, said the plane (file photo of type shown below) was on final approach to Runway 23 when it went down, and there were reports of freezing rain in the area at the time of the accident.

As is customary, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating... but the circumstances of the accident have already generated some conspiracy-minded intrigue.

Non-profit group Velvet Revolution is suspicious of the accident, and has demanded the Ohio Attorney General and the United States Justice Department conduct a complete investigation into Connell's activities to determine whether there was any foul play in his death.

Connell, 45, was an IT expert in the current Bush Administration. The group claims he was "directly implicated" in the alleged rigging of George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 election results, under the direction of Karl Rove. The group claims Connell was about to "tell all" about his work for Bush... and that threats had been made against the lives of Connell and his wife, Heather.

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Richard

Connell, 45, was an IT expert in the current Bush Administration. The group claims he was "directly implicated" in the alleged rigging of George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 election results, under the direction of Karl Rove. The group claims Connell was about to "tell all" about his work for Bush... and that threats had been made against the lives of Connell and his wife, Heather.

Wow...just wow.


Well, may he rest in peace.

[AngelsSix]

People are so fickle, what the hell is wrong with them? It was freezing rain at the time of the accident. I am a former aircraft mech and I know what icing does to a plane. From what little I know about this aircraft, they may not all be equipped with an anti-icing sytem, so it is possible that is what brought the plane down. When the pitot tubes ice up, wind speed is hard to read. If he was IFR, the iced instruments would explain the crash.

This plane crash happened about 11 miles away from my house. I'll have to talk with my old friends in the Sheriff's Office to get the whole picture. If he was flying (as in landing) low he would of received icing on the wing and control surfaces. Some places near here though were receiving just rain because of the 32-33 degree temps. At 500 feet or above it would of been mostly freezing rain (it gets colder as you get highere up). Just MHO.

ALso, it was all freezing rain at my house.

[Ambush Master]

Originally Posted by AngelsSix

People are so fickle, what the hell is wrong with them? It was freezing rain at the time of the accident. I am a former aircraft mech and I know what icing does to a plane. From what little I know about this aircraft, they may not all be equipped with an anti-icing sytem, so it is possible that is what brought the plane down. When the pitot tubes ice up, wind speed is hard to read. If he was IFR, the iced instruments would explain the crash.

Very few aircraft in this class actually have "anti-icing" capabilities!! Most are a "de-ice capability". This means that you have to allow a certain amount to build before you punch it off. I would imagine that this AC had de-ice boots. If he punched them too early, he may have sealed his own fate. Rapid ice accretion is insideous and can bring down even the most talented/knowledgeable aviator if their SA slacks in the least bit!!!

When it comes out in Aviation Week, I'll post it here.

Later.
Martin

[AngelsSix]

AM, thanks for pointing that out. Like I mentioned, I am not as familiar with the small aircraft as some folks.

You may also want to check out this resource as well:

http://www.faa.gov/data_statistics/accident_incident/

[Ambush Master]

Originally Posted by AngelsSix

AM, thanks for pointing that out. Like I mentioned, I am not as familiar with the small aircraft as some folks.

You may also want to check out this resource as well:

http://www.faa.gov/data_statistics/accident_incident/

I am more than familiar with this site, but it normally takes YEARS before you hear anything!! AW&ST is quicker and I haven't seen them miss the mark in over 30 years!!

BTW, as I said I am somewhat, if not intimately, familiar with this issue:

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/1996/AAR9601.pdf

Later.
Martin

[anythingrandom]

Why does it seem that more and more people are expecting EVERY OCCURRENCE, small or large, to stem from the government? Can't afford health care? The big G will pick it up. Don't want student loans? It's the government's job to pay for education, duh! Have trouble understanding the most basic financial concepts, such as what you can afford and what you cannot? Don't worry, your mistakes will be governmentalized. Plane goes down with a man aboard, in icy and what this thread has shown to be very tricky conditions? Obviously due to the government. No way that nature could be responsible.

Sheesh

Here is a PDF of the aircraft w/options:

http://www.newpiper.com/aircraft/spe...SaratogaTC.pdf

[Ambush Master]

Notice that one of the options is for an "Inadvertant Icing Protection System"!! That means not intentionally flying into known or forecasted icing conditions. Getting into ice in a single engine/ non turbine bird, is not very smart.

This was also the same type of aircraft that JFKJr. went down in.

http://boston.com/news/packages/jfkjr/plane_globe.htm

It sounds like a hard plane to fly if you are not prepared to keep busy in the cockpit.

[PSM]

Originally Posted by MAB32

This was also the same type of aircraft that JFKJr. went down in.

http://boston.com/news/packages/jfkjr/plane_globe.htm

It sounds like a hard plane to fly if you are not prepared to keep busy in the cockpit.

It's a very easy aircraft to fly. And that leads to overconfidence in pilots with low time who, too quickly, transition to a "complex" a/c. That's probably what got John, Jr. in trouble. Well, that and the fact that Uncle Teddy had him knocked off because Junior said that, if he were president, he'd lower taxes like his dad did.

Just trying to stay true to Richard's thread title.

Pat

[The Bonus]

AM is correct. Very few light single engine piston aircraft were ever certified for flight into known icing, and this one is not.