Impossible to ditch in a field (almost)

I live out West, where there are hundreds of miles of empty space in every
direction. When flight planning, I often say, "I can ditch in that dry lake
bed, or that field, or if I have to, on that road."

In a couple of weeks, I'm travelling to North Carolina to visit my brother
for the holidays. I'm planning on renting a plane at his local airport and
taking him for a flight. To prepare, I got the Charlotte sectional.

When I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! The thing is literally dotted
with airports. They're everywhere!

Seems to me, I'd much rather be on the east coast when I have an engine
failure, instead of out here where you're lucky to find that dry lake bed
(instead of a mountain).

Anyone ever notice this before?

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III

There are quite a few here in eastern PA and NJ. Some are almost next
to each other like Sky Manor and Alexandria. An engine out halfway
between would still require some altitude to make it to one or the other.

A tip I picked up from AOPA magazine is to flight plan my cross
countries to fly over or very close to airports along my route if
they're only a few minutes out of my way. Hopefully if there's a
problem I'll be able to make it to an airport.

Dave
68 7ECA

mindenpilot wrote:
I live out West, where there are hundreds of miles of empty space in every
direction. When flight planning, I often say, "I can ditch in that dry lake
bed, or that field, or if I have to, on that road."

In a couple of weeks, I'm travelling to North Carolina to visit my brother
for the holidays. I'm planning on renting a plane at his local airport and
taking him for a flight. To prepare, I got the Charlotte sectional.

When I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! The thing is literally dotted
with airports. They're everywhere!

Seems to me, I'd much rather be on the east coast when I have an engine
failure, instead of out here where you're lucky to find that dry lake bed
(instead of a mountain).

Anyone ever notice this before?

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III

everything is different on the right side.. (east), but I can show you
places where there is still a long way between landable airports... north
woods of Maine, NH and VT, but then in NH and VT the airports are closer
together.. and their idea of mountains is down around 4000-5000ft, the
highest point on the east is Mt Washington at 6288MSL. But you still don't
want to mess with it if you are not familiar with mountain effects winds and
weather.

Learned in NH, lived and have flown all over the country, central plains
mostly, and now Western mountains, Nevada/Arizona/Utah/California

BT

"mindenpilot" wrote in message
...
I live out West, where there are hundreds of miles of empty space in every
direction. When flight planning, I often say, "I can ditch in that dry
lake bed, or that field, or if I have to, on that road."

In a couple of weeks, I'm travelling to North Carolina to visit my brother
for the holidays. I'm planning on renting a plane at his local airport
and taking him for a flight. To prepare, I got the Charlotte sectional.

When I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! The thing is literally dotted
with airports. They're everywhere!

Seems to me, I'd much rather be on the east coast when I have an engine
failure, instead of out here where you're lucky to find that dry lake bed
(instead of a mountain).

Anyone ever notice this before?

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III

Actually, the highest point in the east is Mount Mitchell in western North
Carolina at an elevation of 6684 msl

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:yLIsd.176813$bk1.100951@fed1read05...
everything is different on the right side.. (east), but I can show you
places where there is still a long way between landable airports... north
woods of Maine, NH and VT, but then in NH and VT the airports are closer
together.. and their idea of mountains is down around 4000-5000ft, the
highest point on the east is Mt Washington at 6288MSL. But you still don't
want to mess with it if you are not familiar with mountain effects winds
and weather.

Learned in NH, lived and have flown all over the country, central plains
mostly, and now Western mountains, Nevada/Arizona/Utah/California

BT

"mindenpilot" wrote in message
...
I live out West, where there are hundreds of miles of empty space in every
direction. When flight planning, I often say, "I can ditch in that dry
lake bed, or that field, or if I have to, on that road."

In a couple of weeks, I'm travelling to North Carolina to visit my
brother for the holidays. I'm planning on renting a plane at his local
airport and taking him for a flight. To prepare, I got the Charlotte
sectional.

When I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! The thing is literally
dotted with airports. They're everywhere!

Seems to me, I'd much rather be on the east coast when I have an engine
failure, instead of out here where you're lucky to find that dry lake bed
(instead of a mountain).

Anyone ever notice this before?

Adam
N7966L
Beech Super III

really... that's going to be news to everyone in New England.. LOL

BT

"WRE" (remove nospam) wrote in message
...
Actually, the highest point in the east is Mount Mitchell in western North
Carolina at an elevation of 6684 msl

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:yLIsd.176813$bk1.100951@fed1read05...
together.. and their idea of mountains is down around 4000-5000ft, the
highest point on the east is Mt Washington at 6288MSL. But you still
don't want to mess with it if you are not familiar with mountain effects
winds and weather.

"WRE" (remove nospam) wrote in message
...
Actually, the highest point in the east is Mount Mitchell in western
North
Carolina at an elevation of 6684 msl

"BTIZ" wrote in message
newsuOsd.176865$bk1.148755@fed1read05...
really... that's going to be news to everyone in New England.. LOL

It's true. In fact there's four other mountains in the same area (Black
Mountains) that are higher than Mt. Washington. I'm a native North
Carolinian, still reside here, and have been up on these mountains many
times. Like you said, they are still small compared to the Western
mountains, but they shouldn't be taken lightly. If you fly into them they
don't move any more than they do out west!

What makes Mt. Washington really unique is that it has the most extreme
weather conditions. I believe the highest recorded wind velocity was
experienced the 231 mph! Also, unlike the North Carolina mountains,
where trees exist at the peak, Mt. Washington rises above the treeline. This
makes the ascent the top very dramatic and it just feels higher than it
really is.

I just visited Mt. Washington for the first time last year. Anyone who is
interested in weather (most pilots I hope!) should make it a point to check
it out if you are ever in the area. There is a substantial charge to drive
up, but I found it well worth it. You can also take the cog railway straight
up the side too.

-Trent
PP-ASEL

"Trent Moorehead" wrote in message
...

"WRE" (remove nospam) wrote in message
...
Actually, the highest point in the east is Mount Mitchell in western
North
Carolina at an elevation of 6684 msl

"BTIZ" wrote in message
newsuOsd.176865$bk1.148755@fed1read05...
really... that's going to be news to everyone in New England.. LOL

What makes Mt. Washington really unique is that it has the most extreme
weather conditions. I believe the highest recorded wind velocity was
experienced the 231 mph! Also, unlike the North Carolina mountains,
where trees exist at the peak, Mt. Washington rises above the treeline.
This
makes the ascent the top very dramatic and it just feels higher than it
really is.

The most amazing mountains I've ever seen were on the Kenai peninsula in
Alaska. The peaks were only 6000-7000' but they were rising almost straight
up from sea level. The base of Mt. Washington is around 1500' so you have a
pretty impressive vertical rise, despite the relatively low peak. Around
here the treeline is also often pretty low. Mt. Monadnock is only 3200' but
it's pretty much just rock and moss by the time you reach the peak.

In terms of lethality, a hike to the peak in anything other than the middle
of the Summer has to be treated as a potential survival situation. Storms
can dump a foot or more of snow with little warning in early Fall, and by
Thanksgiving the temperatures at night can head into arctic territory, with
wind chills below -100F. If the mountain were less accessible I suspect it
would claim a lot more lives than it does. Every season at least a few
groups of hikers dial 911 on their cell phones.

-cwk.

On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:50:12 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote:

everything is different on the right side.. (east), but I can show you
places where there is still a long way between landable airports... north
woods of Maine, NH and VT, but then in NH and VT the airports are closer
together.. and their idea of mountains is down around 4000-5000ft, the
highest point on the east is Mt Washington at 6288MSL. But you still don't
want to mess with it if you are not familiar with mountain effects winds and
weather.

Learned in NH, lived and have flown all over the country, central plains
mostly, and now Western mountains, Nevada/Arizona/Utah/California

BT

I did not realise that Vermont and NH had lots of airfields, doesn't
seem like it when I'm flying around up here. Plus, the area
contiguous to the Connecticut river valley is extremely inhospitable:
it's very rugged, hilly and has collected a number of airplanes over
the years. Remember the Learjet that went down around this time of
the year six or seven years ago? Wasn't found for 3 years even though
it was finally discovered right along the flight path of the approach
to Lebanon Airport. The guys just let down too early in the clag
after executing a missed approach. Let down into heavily wooded
rising terrain. Weather was nasty that day.

Corky Scott

Corky Scott wrote:
On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:50:12 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote:


everything is different on the right side.. (east), but I can show you
places where there is still a long way between landable airports... north
woods of Maine, NH and VT, but then in NH and VT the airports are closer
together.. and their idea of mountains is down around 4000-5000ft, the
highest point on the east is Mt Washington at 6288MSL. But you still don't
want to mess with it if you are not familiar with mountain effects winds and
weather.

Learned in NH, lived and have flown all over the country, central plains
mostly, and now Western mountains, Nevada/Arizona/Utah/California

BT


I did not realise that Vermont and NH had lots of airfields, doesn't
seem like it when I'm flying around up here. Plus, the area
contiguous to the Connecticut river valley is extremely inhospitable:
it's very rugged, hilly and has collected a number of airplanes over
the years.

Ah.. But there is always Runway 91 in case you need it.

Remember the Learjet that went down around this time of
the year six or seven years ago? Wasn't found for 3 years even though
it was finally discovered right along the flight path of the approach
to Lebanon Airport. The guys just let down too early in the clag
after executing a missed approach. Let down into heavily wooded
rising terrain. Weather was nasty that day.

Corky Scott

IFR mistakes notwithstanding...

--
Remove "2PLANES" to reply.

trust me corky.. you have LOTS of airfields... around here you may need to
go 50 miles or more to find another airport.. and then it will not have fuel
services..

BT

"Corky Scott" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 10:50:12 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote:

everything is different on the right side.. (east), but I can show you
places where there is still a long way between landable airports... north
woods of Maine, NH and VT, but then in NH and VT the airports are closer
together.. and their idea of mountains is down around 4000-5000ft, the
highest point on the east is Mt Washington at 6288MSL. But you still don't
want to mess with it if you are not familiar with mountain effects winds
and
weather.

Learned in NH, lived and have flown all over the country, central plains
mostly, and now Western mountains, Nevada/Arizona/Utah/California

BT

I did not realise that Vermont and NH had lots of airfields, doesn't
seem like it when I'm flying around up here. Plus, the area
contiguous to the Connecticut river valley is extremely inhospitable:
it's very rugged, hilly and has collected a number of airplanes over
the years. Remember the Learjet that went down around this time of
the year six or seven years ago? Wasn't found for 3 years even though
it was finally discovered right along the flight path of the approach
to Lebanon Airport. The guys just let down too early in the clag
after executing a missed approach. Let down into heavily wooded
rising terrain. Weather was nasty that day.

Corky Scott