Two Plane Crashes Today (Sunday 3/22/09)

[USAF Pilot 07]

Anyone remember the Newark MD-11 crash in the 1990s?

Sounds like a similar situation (minus the xwinds)...

Link: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... i_63805245

[Matt Molnar]

Flight Global has compiled a somewhat disturbing list of MD-10/11 accidents that occurred during landing. Yesterday's was the 13th such incident, the third fatal one. Not a great record for a type used in relatively small numbers. It sounds like the plane simply has no forgiveness if anything odd happens during approach.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/unusu ... age-4.html

[Matt Molnar]

NTSB says the Pilatus that crashed in Montana was apparently overloaded, and it was not certified for commercial flights.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/story? ... 042&page=1

[SengaB]

When pilots lose control of those MD-11s on landing they sure like to flipover.

Fedex Newark
China Airlines/Mandarin Airlines in Hong-Kong
and now this Fedex MD-11

Senga

[Matt Molnar]

NTSB says the Pilatus that crashed in Montana was apparently overloaded, and it was not certified for commercial flights.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/story? ... 042&page=1

Maybe it wasn't overloaded after all. Investigation now focusing on icing.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/200903 ... 3P9O1.html

[cancidas]

Maybe it wasn't overloaded after all. Investigation now focusing on icing.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/200903 ... 3P9O1.html

icing could definately have been a factor. the PC-12 is configured with pneumatic boots, just like the Q400. i do still think that the airplane was overloaded. i've never seen a "commuter" conversion for the cabin of a PC-12, the airplane normally comes from the factory with eight seats in the cabin and two in the cockpit. why on earth anyone would put 14 people on an airplane meant to carry 10 max is beyond me.

[USAF Pilot 07]

Not so sure I buy the overloading argument. Seems like there were 6 grown adults (who looked to all be under 200lbs), 7 kids (all under the age of 10, most probably nowhere near 100lbs), and 1 pilot. The young children were most likely on the laps of some of the adults as well. Maybe not the most prudent or "legal" idea, but may not be the sole cause of the crash.

The group was also going skiing - not moving their household, which means they probably weren't carrying much in the way of luggage. And, the aircraft had just flown a moderately long leg (meaning it was probably fairly light). Unless the CG was completely off (which still seems unlikely given the circumstances), icing sounds like a more probable cause. If the aircraft was building up ice on the wings, and the anti-ice was either ineffective or not on, and the pilot started to configure the aircraft for landing (i.e. flaps/gear), it may explain why the aircraft suddenly pitched nosed down and crashed into the ground.

Icing can be a pretty big deal especially during the configuration and landing stages. On somewhat related note, in the T-1, if icing is encountered for more than 10 minutes during flight with a RAT colder than -8 degrees C, we can only go flaps 10 for landing.

[PhilDernerJr]

Icing or not, it still sounds overloaded. The PC-12 is not a "household moving" aircraft, so it isn't built for that weight. 14 people alone sounds heavy, in addition to winter/ski trip gear! That's a LOT actually. That's why airlines use different passengers weights in the winter and summer....its makes a difference.

Even if it was icing, the pax count is very negligent.

[moose135]

On somewhat related note, in the T-1, if icing is encountered for more than 10 minutes during flight with a RAT colder than -8 degrees C, we can only go flaps 10 for landing.

Amazing, six months ago, Clark couldn't spell "pilot" and now he's quoting procedures from the flight manual! I see you've been paying attention down there. :D

[LGA777]

I think I solved the mystery of why the PC-12 made the unscheduled landing in Butte, enroute to Bozeman. Seven young children, approx 2 hour flight from California, no lav onboard. If anyone has ever taken a car trip with young kids you know even with 1 or 2 after about 2 hours somebody will need to go to the bathroom. And while they youngest where probably in Diapers at least 4 where old enough to probalby not be and need to go.

I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of this accident, but I think some of you will agree my point does make sense.

RIP families and pilot.

LGA777

[USAF Pilot 07]

On somewhat related note, in the T-1, if icing is encountered for more than 10 minutes during flight with a RAT colder than -8 degrees C, we can only go flaps 10 for landing.

Amazing, six months ago, Clark couldn't spell "pilot" and now he's quoting procedures from the flight manual! I see you've been paying attention down there. :D

Haha, well I also stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night! Just don't ask my IPs about how well I correlate the book knowledge into actual application in the cockpit ;)

In these days of UAVs, PC-12s and other weird aircraft no one knows about (i.e. airplanes I don't really want to fly), gotta finish strong to have at least some say in what you get when it's all over (in a few months... hopefully). Only thing I can really control is the book knowledge (and I should probably do better at that)...

But you're right, 7 months ago all I knew about flying was from a computer game. 4 months later I soloed an 1100HP $4.5M airplane after 12 rides, got to do full aerobatics at 250+ MPH in formation, got to solo in formation and fly an ILS through the weather in form 10 feet from my friend (did I mention formation flying is pretty fun, lol ) and am now in a pretty "gucci" corporate type jet - it's quite a progression in a short period of time...

Now, I'm just longing for the days when I get to be a co-pilot and become really good at making radio calls, coffee and a good person to blame everything on!

And Moose, you can be my wingman anyday............(though for the safety of you and those around you I strongly advise against it)

[cancidas]

Icing or not, it still sounds overloaded. The PC-12 is not a "household moving" aircraft, so it isn't built for that weight. 14 people alone sounds heavy, in addition to winter/ski trip gear! That's a LOT actually. That's why airlines use different passengers weights in the winter and summer....its makes a difference.

while not a household moving airplane, for it's size it's got a great payload. empty weight of a -12 is around 2500-2600lb while the MGTOW is around 4500. for the 8 seats that are fitted in the cabin that kind of a payload is more than enough. i don't for the life of me understand why anyone would stick 14 people onto that airplane. normally, they're configured for 8 in the cabin and 2 crew. (ron, i know i said 6 the other night but i was thinking back to the one i test-flew which had 2 removed for cargo.)

But you're right, 7 months ago all I knew about flying was from a computer game. 4 months later I soloed an 1100HP $4.5M airplane after 12 rides, got to do full aerobatics at 250+ MPH in formation, got to solo in formation and fly an ILS through the weather in form 10 feet from my friend (did I mention formation flying is pretty fun, lol ) and am now in a pretty "gucci" corporate type jet - it's quite a progression in a short period of time...

maybe someday you'll get to do some real flying: 200kts, 50ft off the deck with a 70-ft rotor spinning wildly above your head...

[USAF Pilot 07]

i don't for the life of me understand why anyone would stick 14 people onto that airplane. normally, they're configured for 8 in the cabin and 2 crew. (ron, i know i said 6 the other night but i was thinking back to the one i test-flew which had 2 removed for cargo.)

Playing devil's advocate...

What's the difference between 8 passengers each weighing 200lbs vs. 13 passengers, of which 3 weigh 200lbs, 3 weigh 140lbs, and 7 weigh on average 60lbs? (pretty generous assumptions based on the pictures of the families I saw). Assuming most of the kids were either on their parents laps I would also assume weight distribution to be fairly similar to that of each seat being occupied by a grown adult.

One thing to keep in mind is that the military has been using the PC-12 for spec-op troop insertion among other things in remote areas around the world. Talking super big picture about weight issues (I don't know what calculations or precautions the USAF takes in terms of how many people they carry, where etc... etc...) I would think I'd be more concerned about dropping off a plane full of special forces/secret squirrel people with gear, than 3 families (6 adults (3 women, 3 men) and 7 young kids) going skiing for the weekend...

If weight was a concern (especially in a smaller aircraft like the PC-12), wouldn't most problems normally occur more so on takeoff (assuming your CG remains the same and is in limits) than during landing when you've got a lot less fuel?
I'm no expert on the PC-12, it's systems or it's limitations, but I think these are somewhat valid points to discuss in dealing with this incident that I'm sure investigators will go over...

maybe someday you'll get to do some real flying: 200kts, 50ft off the deck with a 70-ft rotor spinning wildly above your head...

No thanks. I'm not trying to kill myself! ;)

[cancidas]

If weight was a concern (especially in a smaller aircraft like the PC-12), wouldn't most problems normally occur more so on takeoff (assuming your CG remains the same and is in limits) than during landing when you've got a lot less fuel?

you're right, if it were overweight and out of balance it would have had a hard, if not impossible time getting airborne in the first place. the PC-12 is a very capable airplane, but if not reated properly she'll, like most a/c, not wanna fly.

No thanks. I'm not trying to kill myself!

hey, i'm still alive and kicking after years of playing in the bushes. c'mon, it's fun!

[DHG750R]

NRT has had some pretty sporty winds recently. here are a couple of arrivals filmed in Feb on 34R which is the shorter of the 2 NRT runways