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Little River, TX | First I suspect there are a number of contributing factors in this crash. None of the contributing factors taken separately would be a problem.
Most General Aviation Aircraft can carry so much cargo, PAC's &/or luggage in this case. So much fuel. Trouble is not both at the same time.
The pilot and 7 pass anger capacity probably is considering an average weight of 170 lbs. Usually there will be seats for more, but this will require a reduced fuel load to carry.
My guess (WAG) is this was a pretty much sea level pilot with little experience at landing at a 4,000 feet field elevation location. If this is true, and if the pilot was used to using out side the airplane clues to judge his speed he could have stalled.
If the pilot was looking at the terrain for speed clues his ground speed could have been normal for Sea Level but way too slow at a 6,000 foot traffic pattern altitude. Planes fly with the indicated air speed over the wings not the ground airspeed,
Add to this he just possibly was using an approach speed that would have been appropriate with the plane considerably lighter, as well as the higher altitude.
This phenomena works both ways. A pilot with all his experience flying over the TX High Plains and Colorado, Made a trip to Fort Worth. On board was the Pilot and his 8 or 10 year old son and enough luggage for an over night only. By the time he was at the local Airport he was down to maybe 20% fuel quantify. He made several attempts to get the plane on the ground and in all attempts was way too fast to get much if any breaking action on the wheels. He was used to the higher indicated airspeed needed to attain the desired indicated Air Speed. That plus, for safety, this Pilot was using the highest approach speed in the book. Something appropriate for a plane close to full gross weight. To add to his problem he was using 20 degrees of flaps, which lowers the landing speed.
Possibly just the opposite of the situation for the pilot flying the larger plane in Montana.
Than again some times it is just, Stuff Happens! | |
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A Pilatus PC-12 crashes in Cemertery @ Butte MT
