KS family die in plane crash

[RoyJackson]

It's very easy to become disoriented while flying with no visual references. Your inner ear is telling you things that may or may not be true. Unfortunately, many folks don't trust their instruments, leading to catastrophic results.

The commercial flight 447 that crashed in the south Atlantic is an example of this...with commercial pilots.
This aircraft stalled and fell almost 35000 feet and the pilots did not realize they were in a stall.

 

[ray66v]

Chris, I am an old pilot...have not flown in years...but I agree with you..and I have often wondered why pilots like this poor soul or JFK jr. did not just do a 180 the minute they encountered bad weather...? It would have saved their lives...I'm pretty sure they got disoriented as well and did not trust their instruments....

This guy was turning to avoid the weather, and actually did a 180 before turning back to the north, according to the Miami center radar.

JFK jr. used poor judgement long before he was at the point of doing a 180 to save it. Everyone familiar with that area said, even considering flying into MVY under VFR at that date and time, was a bad idea.

Not to mention the fact that he lost control of a plane, and flew it into the ocean, while a perfectly good autopilot sat on standby.

 

[RoyJackson]

This guy was turning to avoid the weather, and actually did a 180 before turning back to the north, according to the Miami center radar.

JFK jr. used poor judgement long before he was at the point of doing a 180 to save it. Everyone familiar with that area said, even considering flying into MVY under VFR at that date and time, was a bad idea.

Not to mention the fact that he lost control of a plane, and flew it into the ocean, while a perfectly good autopilot sat on standby.

I wouldn't surprised if JFK Jr was stoned or had a few drinks (or both), even if the toxicology reports stated otherwise. The Kenedy family had the political pull to have these records falsified...and the family has had quite a few alcohol or drug problems.

 

[ray66v]

I wouldn't surprised if JFK Jr was stoned or had a few drinks (or both), even if the toxicology reports stated otherwise. The Kenedy family had the political pull to have these records falsified...and the family has had quite a few alcohol or drug problems.

Jr. at least "appeared" to be the one who had it together, ....until this happened.

 

[ray66v]

I wouldn't surprised if JFK Jr was stoned or had a few drinks (or both), even if the toxicology reports stated otherwise.

Your hypothesis seems to have some support here:

"When the NTSB examined the wreckage, they discovered that both of Kennedy's radios had incorrect frequencies selected (he had selected 127.25 for Martha Vineyard's ATIS instead of 126.25; likewise, he selected 135.25 for Essex County ATIS, but it should have been 135.5)".

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris, I am an old pilot...have not flown in years...but I agree with you..and I have often wondered why pilots like this poor soul or JFK jr. did not just do a 180 the minute they encountered bad weather...? It would have saved their lives...I'm pretty sure they got disoriented as well and did not trust their instruments....

Under qualified to fly instruments and simply "I can get us there syndrome"

The JFK Jr deal was a tough one. I fly into Boston, New York, and many other coastal towns weekly. In low light or adverse weather its about impossible to make out the horizon and only a competent pilot will be able to safely continue. In Jr's accident he had a few people tell him not to go and even had a competent pilot off to accompany him on the trip at the last minute when it was clear he was going no matter what but he turned down the help. A fatal mistake.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Does that aircraft have any kind of black box something?
Any pitot tube readings recorded or other data that might
shed some light on things?

I wonder if NTSB quized those whom saw drama on the ground about
thunderheads, towering cumulous etc, if they witnessed anything.

It does not have a "black box" per say but if it were not destroyed the data from the gps is just about as good.

Chris