Cirrus attracting pilots with 'The Wrong Stuff'?

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:OiQhc.2643$aQ6.415323@attbi_s51...
There's been some discussion here about Cirrus' less-than-stellar safety
record. Someone mentioned that perhaps the Cirrus line, with all of its
whiz-bang electronics and slippery airframe, is attracting the "wrong"
kind
of pilots -- meaning, perhaps, too much cash and not enough sense?

I've always heard this same thing said about the Bonanza (the "Fork-tailed
doctor killer") -- but recent accident stats for the Bo don't appear to
bear
this out.

Look at the difference in accident statistic differences between the V35 and
the F33: BIG difference.

Two data points that don't mean much: The only two guys I have personally
known to have bought a Cirrus PRECISELY fit this description. Both guys
have tons of money, not enough free time to stay current, and fly
complicated, long-distance flights on the rare occasions they fly at all.

What's the group-think on this one? Is Cirrus just good at attracting
crappy pilots? Or is there something else at work here?

I'd equate the Cirrus and the V35: good designs but not for the
occasional/inexperience/arrogant pilot.

"Jay Honeck" wrote:
I've always heard this same thing said about the Bonanza...
but recent accident stats for the Bo don't appear to bear
this out.

Actually, A36s are having a spell as bad as Cirruses over the last year
or so, but anyhow...

This (Cirrus accident rate) is starting to look like exactly what you
were talking about in the subject line, i.e. a pilot problem. There's
no trend in the accidents that points to any obvious Cirrus flaw except
one: marketing. The Cirrus aircraft are touted as an escape from the
bad old days of GA, so much safer because of their sophisticated
avionics, simple controls, crashworthy cabins and ballistic parachutes.
Starry-eyed, well-heeled pilots are going for all this in a big way.
But all this cool new stuff doesn't change a thing about the way
airplanes fly. Pilots who are seduced by the safety hype seem to be
trying to exploit an edge the airplanes really aren't giving them, and
it's getting some of them killed.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
I've always heard this same thing said about the Bonanza (the "Fork-tailed
doctor killer") -- but recent accident stats for the Bo don't appear to
bear
this out.

A good friend of mine has sold his Cherokee and is getting "training" in a
Bo almost as I speak. He intends to buy into a partnership with his buddy
who is the current owner and "acting CFI."

This "CFI" hasn't had a certificate in years (bipolar) but flies his Bo
regularly. He's got a ton of hours but has never been a CFI. He's so good
that he brags of taking naps while Otto flies the plane for him. He ran out
of fuel some months ago when he slept through the "E" on the fuel gauge.
Landed in a field. No significant damage. Had the plane towed away before
authorities found out about it.

I've almost come to the conclusion that there are a very large, almost
terrifying number of pilots who fall into the category defined by my friend
and his bipolar buddy.

I've no doubt that lot's of 'em fly Cirrus' (or is it "Cirii"?) Bo's 182's
and Cherokees.

--
Jim Fisher

Landed in a field. No significant damage. Had the plane towed away
before
authorities found out about it.

Now that is terrifying.

I've only met one pilot in ten years that would truly fit your description
(although I've certainly met quite a few with SOME of those
characteristics), and the guy scared the crap out of me.

If I could know when he was flying, I'd stay on the ground that day.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:1p7ic.10076$_L6.892463@attbi_s53...
Landed in a field. No significant damage. Had the plane towed away
before
authorities found out about it.

Now that is terrifying.

I've only met one pilot in ten years that would truly fit your description
(although I've certainly met quite a few with SOME of those
characteristics), and the guy scared the crap out of me.


I've met one, and heard tell of another one. The second took a few lessons,
solo'ed then bought an airplane. Decided that one wasn't fast enough, so
bought a Twin Comanche, he'd routinely fly it from NJ to FL, right down the
east coast. Remember, still a solo'ed student here. Don't worry though,
he's long since killed himself in one of his planes. The kicker was, this
guy was a lawyer! Even though it happened 30+ years ago, I wonder if his
estate sued?

If I could know when he was flying, I'd stay on the ground that day.

Dunno about that one, he might crash into you. I'd much rather be up in the
air; think I've got better odds that way.

Howdy!

In article ,
Jim Fisher wrote:

[snip]

I've no doubt that lot's of 'em fly Cirrus' (or is it "Cirii"?) Bo's 182's
and Cherokees.

That's be "Cirri"...

helpfully yours,
Michael


--
Michael and MJ Houghton | Herveus d'Ormonde and Megan O'Donnelly
| White Wolf and the Phoenix
Bowie, MD, USA | Tablet and Inkle bands, and other stuff
| http://www.radix.net/~herveus/

I've no doubt that lot's of 'em fly Cirrus' (or is it "Cirii"?) Bo's 182's
and Cherokees.

That's be "Cirri"...

It certainly does not use the apostrophe, which is used for possessives and not
plurals.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

"Jim Fisher" wrote:

This "CFI" hasn't had a certificate in years (bipolar) but flies his Bo
regularly. He's got a ton of hours but has never been a CFI. He's so good
that he brags of taking naps while Otto flies the plane for him. He ran out
of fuel some months ago when he slept through the "E" on the fuel gauge.
Landed in a field. No significant damage. Had the plane towed away before
authorities found out about it.
--
Jim Fisher

I think he needs a parachute system on his plane to improve safety.
Obviously the plane needs safety enhancements.

Ron Lee

"Jim Fisher" wrote in message ...

A good friend of mine has sold his Cherokee and is getting "training" in a
Bo almost as I speak. He intends to buy into a partnership with his buddy
who is the current owner and "acting CFI."

Your friend is giving up a Cherokee in order to buy in to a
partnership with an unlicensed, bipolar partner? Does he realize the
kind of liability he's setting himself up for? There's no way the Bo
owner can get insurance to fly that plane. I think they're both nuts.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

"John Galban" wrote in message
om...
"Jim Fisher" wrote in message
...

A good friend of mine has sold his Cherokee and is getting "training" in
a
Bo almost as I speak. He intends to buy into a partnership with his
buddy
who is the current owner and "acting CFI."

Your friend is giving up a Cherokee in order to buy in to a
partnership with an unlicensed, bipolar partner? Does he realize the
kind of liability he's setting himself up for? There's no way the Bo
owner can get insurance to fly that plane. I think they're both nuts.

No, John, I don't think he has any idea. The bipolar guy is a dear friend
to him. They both have more money than sense.

One is certifiably nuts. The other simply does not appreciate the magnitude
of what he is getting into.

I rest comfortably knowing that both have very goof life insurance policies
so that their wives will be taken care of.

--
Jim Fisher