"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:OiQhc.2643$aQ6.415323@attbi_s51...

What's the group-think on this one? Is Cirrus just good at attracting
crappy pilots? Or is there something else at work here?

I have met 2 Cirrus pilots in recent months and both fit the profile
you described. Relatively low time pilots with a lot of spare cash.

To me, this looks a lot like what happened when Piper introduced the
Malibu. It could be flown by low timers with just a HP and Complex
endorsement. There was a rash of accidents involving overstressing of
the airframe after the airplane got away from the pilot in turbulence
or IMC. Unlike our lowly spam cans, the Malibu had a large gap
between normal cruising speed and manuevering speed. If the plane
got away from the pilot in cruise, it could not be horsed back into
line like a Cherokee or 172.

I think this problem was eventually solved by the insurance
companies requiring a level of training that was more appropriate to
the airplane type. My bet is that something similar will happen with
the Cirrus.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)