Lucky to be alive?

Peter R. wrote:

The FAA's website lists this pilot as a non-instrument rated, newly
certificated private pilot.


Actually, the "date of issue" listed on the FAA website doesn't
necessarily reflect the time when someone is first issued a grade of
certificate for the ratings listed. Anytime FAA re-issues the same
certificate for any reason (name change, certificate number change to
remove SSI, etc) the DOI will change on the airman record.

I know this from my personal experience (twice).

This is in no way a defense of Mr. DUCATTE's VFR into IMC stunt,
however.

M wrote:

Actually, the "date of issue" listed on the FAA website doesn't
necessarily reflect the time when someone is first issued a grade of
certificate for the ratings listed. Anytime FAA re-issues the same
certificate for any reason (name change, certificate number change to
remove SSI, etc) the DOI will change on the airman record.

Yep, you are correct. My mistake.

--
Peter

On Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:19:02 -0700, Newps wrote:



Gig 601XL Builder wrote:


He needs his ticket yanked and I'll bet his instructor has a meeting with
the FSDO as well.


Why would you think that?


Are you asking about the first or second part of my statement.

The second. What interest would the FAA have in the instructor?

Oh they do, they do.... Low time pilot, big time screw up. They are
most likely going to want to have a talk with the instructor. We've
had that happen a couple of times in the past few years and the screw
up weren't nearly that bad. No one was hurt and the airplanes could
be reused...after a bit of work. Both a 150 and a 172 had shoulders
put in the wings and another 150 was totaled all from the same FBO
which was really hard on his insurance rates.


Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

"M" wrote in message
ups.com...
Peter R. wrote:

The FAA's website lists this pilot as a non-instrument rated, newly
certificated private pilot.


Actually, the "date of issue" listed on the FAA website doesn't
necessarily reflect the time when someone is first issued a grade of
certificate for the ratings listed. Anytime FAA re-issues the same
certificate for any reason (name change, certificate number change to
remove SSI, etc) the DOI will change on the airman record.

I know this from my personal experience (twice).

This is in no way a defense of Mr. DUCATTE's VFR into IMC stunt,
however.


That's true. But the original story led said he was a fairly new pilot or
words to that effect.

On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 17:29:41 -0500, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea
Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote:

"601XL Builder" wrDOTgiacona@suddenlinkDOTnet wrote in message
...
john smith wrote:
Family’s faith stronger after plane crash
Worthington couple, kids walk away after aircraft goes down in North
Carolina fog
Monday, January 01, 2007


Mr. Ducatte, a chemist at Battelle, has a basic pilot’s license and has
been flying a few years. He said he is thankful for his flight
instructor, Chuck Miele.



He needs his ticket yanked and I'll bet his instructor has a meeting with
the FSDO as well.

From the description, it sounds like he attempted VFR over the top of the
overcast - I assume he was counting on a hole somewhere near the
destination? Perhaps he had a favorable forcast for somewhere down the way?

The funny thing is that I have heard others on this newsgroup (or perhaps,
r.a.student) talk about doing exactly the same thing with not much of a
reaction. I guess they got away with it.

VFR over the top here in the states is quite common.


But, I will aggree, he has a real problem with getthereitis. Lucky a whole
bunch of people didn't end up dead.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

"Roger" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 17:29:41 -0500, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea
Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote:

"601XL Builder" wrDOTgiacona@suddenlinkDOTnet wrote in message
...
...

He needs his ticket yanked and I'll bet his instructor has a meeting
with
the FSDO as well.

From the description, it sounds like he attempted VFR over the top of the
overcast - I assume he was counting on a hole somewhere near the
destination? Perhaps he had a favorable forcast for somewhere down the
way?

The funny thing is that I have heard others on this newsgroup (or perhaps,
r.a.student) talk about doing exactly the same thing with not much of a
reaction. I guess they got away with it.

VFR over the top here in the states is quite common.


So then, why is everyone trying to get on this guy's case. Because his luck
ran out?

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
"Roger" wrote in message
...

On Tue, 2 Jan 2007 17:29:41 -0500, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea
Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote:


"601XL Builder" wrDOTgiacona@suddenlinkDOTnet wrote in message
...

...

He needs his ticket yanked and I'll bet his instructor has a meeting
with
the FSDO as well.

From the description, it sounds like he attempted VFR over the top of the

overcast - I assume he was counting on a hole somewhere near the
destination? Perhaps he had a favorable forcast for somewhere down the
way?

The funny thing is that I have heard others on this newsgroup (or perhaps,
r.a.student) talk about doing exactly the same thing with not much of a
reaction. I guess they got away with it.

VFR over the top here in the states is quite common.



So then, why is everyone trying to get on this guy's case. Because his luck
ran out?

Because it sounded like the descended through an area of less than VFR
visibility (maybe even through a cloud layer, I don't recall the
specifics) and crashed. That has nothing to do wtih flying VFR above a
cloud layer.


Matt

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
"Roger" wrote in message
...
...
So then, why is everyone trying to get on this guy's case. Because his
luck ran out?

Because it sounded like the descended through an area of less than VFR
visibility (maybe even through a cloud layer, I don't recall the
specifics) and crashed. That has nothing to do wtih flying VFR above a
cloud layer.


"A recorded message from the Asheville airport said there was 1,000 feet
of clearance between the clouds and ground."

So he is a moron, should have his ticket yanked, etc. etc. because his luck
ran out and he didn't find the VFR he was expecting?

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:

"Roger" wrote in message
...

...

So then, why is everyone trying to get on this guy's case. Because his
luck ran out?

Because it sounded like the descended through an area of less than VFR
visibility (maybe even through a cloud layer, I don't recall the
specifics) and crashed. That has nothing to do wtih flying VFR above a
cloud layer.



"A recorded message from the Asheville airport said there was 1,000 feet
of clearance between the clouds and ground."

So he is a moron, should have his ticket yanked, etc. etc. because his luck
ran out and he didn't find the VFR he was expecting?

Funny, I don't flight plan with luck as a requirement for a successful
outcome. To me anyone who does that shouldn't be a pilot so that is
reason enough to yank his ticket.

Anyone flying VFR over the top should have a pretty good plan B and
probably a plan C as well. My plan B is being instrument rated, but
since he wasn't, he should have had another plan B such as VMC elsewhere
within range of his airplane.


Matt

Matt

Matt Whiting schrieb:

Because it sounded like the descended through an area of less than VFR
visibility (maybe even through a cloud layer, I don't recall the
specifics) and crashed.

No, it clearly sonded that he tried to stay on top but was washed down
into the soup.

That has nothing to do wtih flying VFR above a cloud layer.

That has everything to do with flying VFR above a cloud layer.