Angry

dave j wrote:
Angry, I think because it is so senseless and needless. It's upseting
to see people killing their families in stupid ways. I don't know what
it is about the hills around gilroy, but they seem to be magnets for
airplanes.

A couple of years ago, a CFI and Commercial student hit the hills in similar
conditions although it was day time. Scud ran all the way from RHV along
Hwy 101 below 500' in a Commander and then ran into the hills when they
tried to get through next to the reservoir near Hollister (heading into the
valley).


On the other hand, I might disagree with Hilton about whether the time
and type/age of the AC made for unacceptable risk factors for family
flying in and of themselves. If the pilot was skilled for IMC and the
plane was properly equipped and maintained, I don't have a problem with
it.

The database lists the owner with no IFR rating, only ASEL. Disclaimer:
Might not have been the owner flying, might have got his IR recently, etc
etc etc.


There is, of course, the old single-engine-night-imc worry of
engine failure, but I'd bet $0.50 that this plane augured in with
cruise power. (that's purely speculation, of course, but I'd bet $0.50)

Reports of 'aerobatics' probably imply a spin, which in turn probably
implies disorientation, which probably implies a stupid VFR into IMC flight
at night. Obviously, yes, we'll have to wait for the final report, but
unfortunately with most accidents, just the names and faces change.

Hilton

A couple of years ago, a CFI and Commercial student hit the hills in similar
conditions although it was day time. Scud ran all the way from RHV along
? Hwy 101 below 500' in a Commander and then ran into the hills when
they
tried to get through next to the reservoir near Hollister (heading into the
valley).

Were they on an IFR clearance? Was this recent accident on an IFR
clearance? Sounds like you have more information about this situation
than the rest of us.

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...

A couple of years ago, a CFI and Commercial student hit the hills in
similar
conditions although it was day time. Scud ran all the way from RHV along
? Hwy 101 below 500' in a Commander and then ran into the hills when
they tried to get through next to the reservoir near Hollister (heading
into the
valley).

Were they on an IFR clearance?


Couldn't be on one at 500'.

The point is that we don't know if the recent accident occured on an
IFR clearance. Since we don't know that, I don't see how we can compare
the two. Skud running through the mountains at night is not the same
thing as being on an IFR clearance.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
The point is that we don't know if the recent accident occured on an
IFR clearance. Since we don't know that, I don't see how we can compare
the two. Skud running through the mountains at night is not the same
thing as being on an IFR clearance.

The pilot had (apparently) only had his Private certificate for one month.

Hilton

Robert M. Gary wrote:
A couple of years ago, a CFI and Commercial student hit the hills in
similar
conditions although it was day time. Scud ran all the way from RHV along
? Hwy 101 below 500' in a Commander and then ran into the hills when
they
tried to get through next to the reservoir near Hollister (heading into
the
valley).

Were they on an IFR clearance?

No, but were instrument rated and it was a Commander. It may have been a
legality issue (currency etc) that cause them to go VFR, I don't know.

Was this recent accident on an IFR clearance?

FAA records show that the pilot did not have an instrument rating - now
those records are a little old, so he may have. Prelim FAA data show that
the pilot did get a weather briefing, but it does not show him on an IFR
flight plan. (Again, this data is often wrong).


Sounds like you have more information about this situation
than the rest of us.

I followed the accident pretty closely. I was watching the weather
conditions the whole week. San Jose was completely 'socked in' for days -
Sacramento/Modesto etc area was clear though so I'm sure that was tempting.
I watched the radar plot immediately afterwards and they stayed really low,
followed Hwy 101 and then took a left at the reservoir. It was a typical
scud run for about 20 minutes or so. I saw the accident area several times,
it is right on the RHV to Harris Ranch run. The CFI made numerous claims
including that he wasn't monitoring the altitude, that the plane was on fire
prior to the accident, and that he was just a passenger and not the CFI at
the time. The NTSB (correctly IMHO) rejected those claims.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...03FA187&rpt=fi

Hilton

"Hilton" wrote in message
ink.net...

No, but were instrument rated and it was a Commander. It may have been a
legality issue (currency etc) that cause them to go VFR, I don't know.


Doesn't sound like they were too concerned about legalities. Scud running
all the way from RHV along Hwy 101 below 500' would surely run afoul of FAR
91.119.

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 21:31:05 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll"
wrote:


"Hilton" wrote in message
link.net...

No, but were instrument rated and it was a Commander. It may have been a
legality issue (currency etc) that cause them to go VFR, I don't know.


Doesn't sound like they were too concerned about legalities. Scud running
all the way from RHV along Hwy 101 below 500' would surely run afoul of FAR
91.119.

I'm confused. Was that how they originally got to South County
Airport? (Q99)

Q99 was the departure point immediately before the crash, and the
crash scene (going by a map in the newspaper) was 2 miles away, into
rising terrain, more or less along a crosswind departure leg, assuming
a takeoff to the south. That'd be orthogonal to 101.

The accident report says the departure point was "Santa Clara," but
that's just part of Q99's full name.

I apologize if I'm trying to teach my grandma to suck eggs here.

Don

Don Tuite wrote:
I'm confused. Was that how they originally got to South County
Airport? (Q99)

your charts aren't up to date!.. it is now called E16.

--Sylvain

"Don Tuite" wrote in message
news

I'm confused. Was that how they originally got to South County
Airport? (Q99)

Q99 was the departure point immediately before the crash, and the
crash scene (going by a map in the newspaper) was 2 miles away, into
rising terrain, more or less along a crosswind departure leg, assuming
a takeoff to the south. That'd be orthogonal to 101.

The accident report says the departure point was "Santa Clara," but
that's just part of Q99's full name.

I apologize if I'm trying to teach my grandma to suck eggs here.


From Hilton's message:

"A couple of years ago, a CFI and Commercial student hit the hills in
similar
conditions although it was day time. Scud ran all the way from RHV along
Hwy 101 below 500' in a Commander and then ran into the hills when they
tried to get through next to the reservoir near Hollister (heading into the
valley)."