Miracles..Do you believe in them???

[crispy critter]

Last saturday evening durning my youngest daughters 10th birthday party around 7pm est a close friend of ours and of the entire community decided to load up his 1959 Cessna 150 with 26 gallons of gas and his 17 year old son to take a local joy ride. It was one of the hottest days of the year. Temp was 98 degrees and the humidity was around 80%! Airport elevation is 924 located in hilly terrain with hills and trees all around the runway. Our friend is a good pilot but not all that "up-to-date" on staying current but he always flies local,no silly stuff, and rarely takes anyone with him and when he does he only takes his son who is working on his private. Anyway, they took off overwieght with little to no wind at all. As soon as the airplane came out of ground affect guess what happened....yep you guessed right,it simply quite climbing. So thinking he could do a skidding turn to the left into a very light(if any) head wind and try to make it through a low gap in the trees that would put him over the lower lying river valley on the south side of the airport might just save his butt....but he missed the gap in the trees by about 100 feet,then panic set in and he just tried to force the airplane's nose up just enough to clear the trees. Keep in mind he is overwieght under normal condition,98 degrees with about 80% humidity,just barely above the tree tops,10 degrees of flaps,trying to force the nose up while making a skidding left turn at full power. Here's pics of the results......oh,and the miracle is....both father and son WALKED AWAY!!!!! They had some cuts,bumps,and bruises but not a single broken bone or serious injury of any kind! Our friend,the father had to have about 5 stitches in the top of his forehead and about that many also on his leg. The son was treated for one very small minor cut just below his right eye......you tell me why or how either of them are still breathing at all? The airplane did spin in after it stalled. There is NO shoulder harnesses,only the original lap belts!

[barnstmr]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

The only explanation there could be.... GOD's Grace. Yes... I believe. And it happens to good people and bad people.

[mhorowit]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

Wow.
Density altitude is a B*#$%.
How did you calm down the b'day guests? - Mike

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

Holy Cow!
God must have something left in this life for those two guys to do, otherwise they should be pushing up daisies.

[crispy critter]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

Mike,luckily the birthday girls were all inside when this happened. The guy flying is a very religous fellow and does a lot for everyone. He has also been spending a lot of time in Hati helping out. Nicest guy in the world but never was much on the legalities when it came to staying current on his flying.....an occasional bi-annual might have helped to prevent this but I think he really learned a valuble lesson on density altitude,wieght & balance,and pure dumb luck. It also showed everyone around here that miracles do happen,even the FAA said so,lol. I just hope he doesn't get into too much trouble with the feds over it....expired bi-annual,expired medical,and airplane out of annual all by several years. The airplane was maintained very well and always inspected pretty often by the owner but for some reason he wouldn't spend the money for an actual annual. I asked the FAA guy what he thought the penalties might be for such violations with the severity of the accident and he said he really didn't know because he had never seen anyone survive a crash of this nature.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

God was indeed there and it is true HE had more in mind for these folks. I got caught by density altitude ONCE and that was enough for a lifetime!
Apparently he was not going faster than his Guardian Angel could fly.

[crispy critter]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

It sure does make ya wonder don't it.....

[Bird]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

You guys might not believe this but don't stand next to me in a thunderstorm, I have been hit by lightning 10 times now, once on a lawnmower, and 9 times in a towercrane, the last time in the crane I ended up with a bunch of red circles running from my left hand to my shoulder.
That crap you hear about electricty running in the metal is all and good but if you are touching some of that metal you are part of the charge- lightning goes both ways up and down and when the steppers finally meet you get a connection.
I believe in miracles, I just wish God would stop the testing

[crispy critter]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

Bird,My advice to you is , when ya hear thunder.....HIDE!!!! LOL. Glad your still hear to tell us about it.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

This summer has been HOT 30 degC all the time and I have a powerline at the end of the runway, or downwind evens so lightly the other way.
My 64 1/2 ponys are just enough to lift me off with no more when 24 gallon of fuel and alone. My wife wants a ride but she is filling left out as I say no.

Len

[jim cooper]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

leaving religion out of it, this fellows reasoning processes seem to be very flawed. No license, no medical, airplane out of annual, bad flying conditions for this aircraft,etc. It would probably be to his benefit ,(not to mention his familys) if they fined him a good amount and pulled his license to fly for good.

[guns68]

Re: Miracles..Do you believe in them???

I agree with you Jim, but I don't see how you can leave religion out of it, for all the reasons you listed.
sometimes we survive in spite of our best efforts.