George Patterson wrote:

Matt Whiting wrote:


The thought of
full stalling into the trees has just never given me great comfort. :-)


I remember a thread a year or more back in which this technique was
discussed. A few posts claimed (and, IIRC, proof was presented) that
stalling an aircraft into the trees would usually result in such a
strong decelleration force when you hit that compression of the spine
would result. This would frequently produce paralysis or death. The
claim was made that flying the aircraft into the trees (basically a
"greaser landing" in the upper limbs) was far safer than stalling it in.

I decided at that time that the argument seems reasonable to me and that
I would try to fly the plane in if the situation ever came up.

I can see where flying it in might change the angle of the force such
that your spine might be in less danger, but the extra speed also
greatly increases the force.

I do greaser full-stall landings just as I was taught. If I ever have
to land in the trees, I'll do it the same way. I'll minimize the speed
of impact and try to impact at a vertical speed of nearly zero, just
like a greaser landing.


Matt