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Bpost, a little insight?

Don McManus
I don't know if you have seen reports of the collision above Lake Coeur d'Alene this past Sunday.
I talked to a guy who was out on the water at the time, and he implied he was an eyewitness, though his story sounded more like he talked to a guy who was an eyewitness.
Either way, he was stating that the de Havilland Beaver was taking off from the water and the Cessna was flying low sight seeing when the collision occurred.
This seems a difficult case, and as the NTSB has not yet reported, it is speculation.
It seem the Beaver pilot would be primarily concerned about the boat traffic in the area during his take-off run and the Cessna pilot would be primarily concerned about any traffic in the air.  While both pilots should obviously be aware of the totality of their surroundings if possible, have you ever heard of something like this?  To your knowledge, are there any basic rules that would govern this situation?

It looks like 8 people were lost, 6 on the Beaver and 2 on the Cessna.  The Beaver was a fixture on the lake for as long as I can remember.

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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • Mr. Perfect
    It's a sad situation. The planes sunk so fast the first ones there couldn't sort out a thing.
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  • BobJudy
    Truly a horrific tragedy. I think I have mentioned before that I was a passenger in a Beaver that narrowly avoided a collision with a boat that darted into our path as we were landing. Beavers are slow and not the most nimble aircraft in the sky. Not sure how the Cessna could have missed seeing it. Bob
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  • Merlinnv12
    This was a tragic accident and a personal loss to me. I have known the 206 pilot for over 40 years. He was a great guy and a good pilot and will be sorely missed. RIP, Jay.


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  • bpost
    FAA rules state that it is the PIC (Pilot In Command)'s responsibility for the safety of the aircraft and passengers from the moment the engine starts to the moment it is shut off.  This tragedy could have been avoided if the proper radio procedures had been followed by both aircraft.  Flying aircraft are to give way to landing or departing aircraft.  I am not float plane certified but the beaver sounds like a victim, not a cause.  The Cessna sounds like it was buzzing the lake, a no-no.  You are supposed to stay 500 feet from the surface, dwellings or crowds unless specifically allowed by the FAA.
    Blame?  The FAA will sort it out but it sounds like the Cessna was in the wrong place at the wrong time and POSSIBLY flying below the FAA minimums over the lake.  The beaver would have been looking for boats or logs as he took off and may not have seen the Cessna before it was too late and unable to avoid the impact.  Whatever the cause I am saddened to hear of the horrid loss of life and the loss of two aircraft.
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  • slinger
    See and avoid. Gotta mind your work.
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  • bpost
    slinger said:
    See and avoid. Gotta mind your work.

    One of the benefits of the new ADS-B requirements is seeing other aircraft near you.  ADS-B was mandated on 01-01-2020 for any aircraft flying into controlled airspace.  ADS-B is a satellite location system that gives ATC and pilots your N number and location accurate to the second, unlike radar.  When out of ADS-B range or coverage the MK1 Mod1 eyeball is the best and final determination of other aircraft or dangers in your flight path.  Keep your head out of the cockpit and LOOK in a methodical manner. 
    As I fly more and more I need to keep reminding myself that seeing and avoiding the other guy is MY responsibility, I take it seriously, especially in congested airspace and areas without control towers.  It is amazingly hard it is to spot airplanes in the airspace even when talking to them and looking for them.  Going to popular $100 hamburger airports can be an exercise in see and avoid a mile goes by quick when two aircraft are approaching each other at a combined speed of 250 knots or faster.  Radios are not required for most flights and some non-electric aircraft are still out there.  They don't have a radio and can just enter the pattern and land without a single word spoken. 
    Due diligence and following procedures maintains safe flight!
    I hate hearing of the lives lost in these crashes.  It boils down to a series of pilot errors, bad judgement or miscalculations that result in a fatal encounter.
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  • Don McManus
    Just heard an update.  The purported eyewitness apparently was not.  The Beaver was not taking off.  Both planes were in low level scenic flights above the lake.   No suggestion that they were below 500 feet.  Just in the same airspace at the same time.
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  • Merlinnv12
    Just heard an update.  The purported eyewitness apparently was not.  The Beaver was not taking off.  Both planes were in low level scenic flights above the lake.   No suggestion that they were below 500 feet.  Just in the same airspace at the same time.
    That’s kinda what I thought. My friend, Jay, was not the kind to “buzz” the lake at low altitude. It would have jeopardized his flying job and carreer.


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  • Don McManus
    Merlinnv12 said:
    Just heard an update.  The purported eyewitness apparently was not.  The Beaver was not taking off.  Both planes were in low level scenic flights above the lake.   No suggestion that they were below 500 feet.  Just in the same airspace at the same time.
    That’s kinda what I thought. My friend, Jay, was not the kind to “buzz” the lake at low altitude. It would have jeopardized his flying job and carreer.


    I missed your first post merlinnv12.  It is ridiculous the amount of mis-information that gets out locally when something like this happens.  We moor our boat about 3 miles from where the collision occurred, and it has obviously been a topic of conversation.

     Sorry for the loss of your friend.   
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  • bpost
    What ever the circumstance it is VERY sad to see the loss of life in this tragedy.  I hope ADS-B was on both aircraft and it was in a zone of adequate signal for the FAA to determine what happened.  See and avoid is the key here since it appears both were flying over the lake.  MerlinnV12, I am truly sorry for your loss.
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  • Merlinnv12
    bpost said:
    What ever the circumstance it is VERY sad to see the loss of life in this tragedy.  I hope ADS-B was on both aircraft and it was in a zone of adequate signal for the FAA to determine what happened.  See and avoid is the key here since it appears both were flying over the lake.  MerlinnV12, I am truly sorry for your loss.
    Thanks, Bruce. As you know, it is real easy to become complacent while flying and spend too much time looking out the side windows. You almost have to force yourself to look ahead and side to side at the same elevation at which you are flying. See and be seen is a good rule and monitoring the radio is a big help but some pilots rely on the radio and fiddling with knobs and such that they neglect using thier eyeballs, especially while in the pattern at an uncontrolled field.
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