USPA News

The End Is So Final

The last week in July and the first week in August have been marked by a series of fatal aircraft accidents involving pilots and their families and friends from the state of Texas. There is no doubt in my mind that weather played a part in every one of these occurrences. Contrary to popular belief, Texas weather is not always CAVU with tailwinds. Consider these accidents. A single engine airplane piloted by a Texan, attempts to depart from Point Lookout airport in Branson, MO. Outside temperature was approaching 100 degrees. The plane was heavily loaded, and the pilot realized he could not get off the ground and attempted to abort the takeoff. He ran off the runway elevated threshold and fell onto a highway where the airplane exploded and burned killing all aboard. A light twin departs a private airpark in the Austin, Texas area. Temperatures and humidity are again major factors. The plane will not climb and ends up crashing into a house killing all aboard and destroying the house.

Yet another aircraft crashes and burns at Mineral Wells, Texas attempting to land on a 100 degree day. Two folks died when their aircraft dropped off center radar less than thirty miles from Waco, Texas. Temperatures in the high nineties, and this occurred in one of the most heavily scrutinized areas in the country; near President Bush's ranch. We as pilots need to realize that the airplane that flies off the ground in forty degree weather will require a great deal longer runway to get off the ground on a very hot day. Heat is a factor. So is humidity. As is total weight and how the plane is loaded. My rule of thumb is to depart early in the day when it is cooler and always be sure I am under gross weight. Density Altitude can kill you just as easily at sea level on a hot, humid day. Read your POH and understand the aircraft's limitations. Try to fly early in the day and avoid the late afternoon convective activity. Let us not try to defy the laws of physics. Common sense will go a long way toward insuring many future years of flying.

Steve Uslan, President
USPA