A topic we don't like to talk about.....

[GMAs]

Over the weekend we had a 310 go down into a group of people... just after take of... both engines lost power... and while the reason is still under investigation... it is clear that the owner was cutting corners... on the inital findings...

Look we all don't like to spend money on aircraft... and flying... we like to fly and squeek when we walk... but, their are limits...

Best it be said that if your going to fly your going to have to spend money... and while we all would like to keep our money and use something cheeper... the part that suffers is reliablity and the ability to keep flying safely...

What happened here is that the pilot knew he lost power on take off... now brackett field is right off the end of Puddingstone resivor... a favorite play ground for kids and water sports... and I think you can begin to see the picture here...

The pilot elected to try and put it down in the parking lot... which was on the other side of the beach... so between the lake and the parking lot was a 4th of july gathering... of lots of party going people... and kids... having a good time...

Well the pilot made it.. after hitting the beach... and killing 4 people right off... including himself... which made 5.... not a good thing huh....

What I am getting to here is that we have a responsiblity to the public and each other... and in this case the pilot should have known that he was going to plow the farm... and instead of taking others with him... should have taken a different approch to the problem... and planted it in the lake... and saved the others from a death that they need not have....

I am not saying that we are supposed to be heros.. but, that we are given a responsiblity that is above the rest... when we fly... and some times we have to use a option that we don't find favorable... but, necessary to save others...

This is something to think about every time you go get into the plane... you are passing over lots of people you don't even know... but, your are responsible for keeping safe...

So.... how do we try and gurentee... safe flight... by keeping up with the maintance... keeping our planes in good shape... and flying responsibly... and lastly... keeping in the back of our minds that when things go really wrong.. we may have to make that ultimate decision....

I hope that I don't sound like a downer... but, sorry to hear that this person was more interested in saving himself and his plane than putting the others first.... GMAs...