"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
...
It's worth reading Collins' column this month, if for no other reason
than to read the IFR accidents he describes. It is pretty clear from
his narration that these pilots were not chumps, were not out of
currency, were not breaking any rules, and were definitely flying some
VERY nice equipment.
...

I don't get Flying, so I have to ask... So, who are we talking about? Air
ambulances that fly "no matter what" - ice, below minimums, imbedded CB...?
Freight dogs that fly "no matter what"? What do you mean "VERY nice
equipment" - I've known guys who flew what sounds like nice equipment for
outfits that did most of their maintainence on paper (and paper only). Where
is Mr. Schnerd, RN and some of his stories about flying cancelled checks? "I
don't know why we bothered to check the weather - we flew anyhow..." That
kind of flying does not do much for one's life expectancy.

Then there are the guys that really have no buisness flying in IMC. Remember
when Bonanza's were called "Fork Tailed Doctor Killers"?

You don't strike me as someone who frequently falls victim to the number one
cause of death among pilots - "Get-there-ites". That has to make a HUGE
differnence in your odds - IFR or VFR...

True story: One of the old-timers at the airport (you probably know the guy
if you've spent any time at a small airport) who had an old Stinson. He
didn't bother with medicals any more because he didn't think he could pass.
He didn't bother with annuals on the Stinson any more either. One day, he
was talking about flying back from Oshkosh with the grandkids - he had
decided to fly across Lake Michigan. Well, as you might expect, it was a
little hazy and he had to resort to instruments. Now, instruments in the
Stinson consisted of needle, ball, airspeed, altimiter, and magnetic
compass. So, he's flying needle ball and airspeed and after a while starts
to wonder why he wasn't over land. So he checks the compass and realizes
that he has drifted off course and is flying south - the length of the lake.
So he makes a left turn to head for shore, and, obviously, makes it home OK.
Now, Jay, would you have tried to pull a stunt like that?

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
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