Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote in message ...
[snip]

The other thing that comes to mind is the conception people have on the
ground
that he was a hero somehow "because he tried so hard not to hit anything".
Well, don't we all? In my own crash back in 1988 they said the same thing
about
the excellent job I'd done avoiding the houses and kids playing in the
yards.
At the time I can remember asking: "What kids? What houses?" When
something
like this happens your mind focuses on the clear space, not the obstacles.

I caught the end of a TV report on a helicopter crash today. They also
mentioned the "heroic effort" by the pilot. I know in some cases there can
be some control by the pilot, but in this case it looks too early to know
what the exact cause is. It was reported that the "rotor came off", but that
may have just been an eyewitness account. It certainly was unattached by the
time the chopper came to a rest - fortunately gently enough to save the
passengers from anything but minor injuries.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/featur...484602.story?c
oll=chi-newsbreaking-hed

- Rick