Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bytemite:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/15/new.york.plane.crash/index.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/09/couricandco/entry5228341.shtml

How? This seems so soon. What is going on?

ETA: Oops! Got the airports wrong. But still, this is weird, two crashes in the Hudson?

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

Anyhows, given the chaos of low altitude operations, the safety record for em is surprisingly good overall, honestly.

---

Quote:

---

The singer John Denve,r died in an ultralight accident at Monterey, CA. many years ago. He was a beginner at the time, I think.

---

Quote:

---

On October 12, 1997, Denver was killed when the Long-EZ aircraft he was piloting crashed just off the coast of California at Pacific Grove, shortly after taking off from the Monterey Peninsula Airport.
The Long-EZ is a two-seat experimental aircraft, designed in the 1970s by Burt Rutan. Denver's particular plane, N555JD, bought used, had been changed from Rutan's original published plans: the fuel tank selector valve had been moved from a location just aft of the nose gear wheel housing and between the pilot's legs to the bulkhead behind and to the left of the pilot's (front) seat.[12] This is of possible significance because it is believed Denver may have lost control of the aircraft during attempts to operate the fuel selector valve after running out of fuel in one tank. Witnesses stated that the plane made a sudden pitch-down plunge into the water, leading to speculation that, in reaching around to the rear, Denver bumped or kicked the side-stick control. The official investigation decided that he had likely inadvertently pushed the right rudder pedal trying to gain leverage to turn in his seat to reach the fuel handle.
A pilot with over 2,700 hours of experience, Denver had single-engine land and sea, multi-engine land, glider, and instrument ratings. He also held a type rating in a Learjet. He had recently purchased the Long-EZ aircraft and had taken a half-hour checkout flight with the aircraft the day before the accident. The NTSB cited Denver's unfamiliarity with the aircraft and his failure to have the aircraft refueled as causal factors in the accident.

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Kwicko:

Quote:

---

The singer John Denve,r died in an ultralight accident at Monterey, CA. many years ago. He was a beginner at the time, I think.

---

Nope, and nope.

From Wiki:

Quote:

---

On October 12, 1997, Denver was killed when the Long-EZ aircraft he was piloting crashed just off the coast of California at Pacific Grove, shortly after taking off from the Monterey Peninsula Airport.
The Long-EZ is a two-seat experimental aircraft, designed in the 1970s by Burt Rutan. Denver's particular plane, N555JD, bought used, had been changed from Rutan's original published plans: the fuel tank selector valve had been moved from a location just aft of the nose gear wheel housing and between the pilot's legs to the bulkhead behind and to the left of the pilot's (front) seat.[12] This is of possible significance because it is believed Denver may have lost control of the aircraft during attempts to operate the fuel selector valve after running out of fuel in one tank. Witnesses stated that the plane made a sudden pitch-down plunge into the water, leading to speculation that, in reaching around to the rear, Denver bumped or kicked the side-stick control. The official investigation decided that he had likely inadvertently pushed the right rudder pedal trying to gain leverage to turn in his seat to reach the fuel handle.
A pilot with over 2,700 hours of experience, Denver had single-engine land and sea, multi-engine land, glider, and instrument ratings. He also held a type rating in a Learjet. He had recently purchased the Long-EZ aircraft and had taken a half-hour checkout flight with the aircraft the day before the accident. The NTSB cited Denver's unfamiliarity with the aircraft and his failure to have the aircraft refueled as causal factors in the accident.

---

Burt Rutan, if the name sounds familiar, is the guy who designed the plane that made a non-stop trip around the world. And he recently won the X-Prize space contest. His designs are known for being quite good.

People often mistake the "Experimental" small homebuilts for ultralights, but they're not in the same league.

Mike

Sweeping generalizations are always wrong!

---

Quote:

---

Thank you, Superman.

---