The End of General Aviation - Jan 05 02

[btacon]

*****News Rip From Drudge*****


Small plane crashes into building in Downtown Tampa... MORE... A small plane crashed into a 42 story downtown office building shortly after 5pm est this afternoon. So far, being characterized as an accident, no flames nor wide spread damage have been seen. The plane is seen hanging from the building around the 20th floor where it hit.... MORE... a witness says the plane did not try to turn away from the building and that a coast guard helicopter was in pursuit... Plane left St. Petersburg/ Clearwater airport. Unauthorized takeoff... FBI does not believe the crash is related to terrorism but has sent agents to the scene

Cessna 172R - N2371N

$92 per hour
Year: 2000
Model: Cessna 172R
Seats: 4
seful Load: 770 lbs.
Propeller Type: Fixed PitchAvg. Airspeed: 125 knots
Fuel Burn: 9 gallons per hour
Fuel Capacity: 56 gallons, 53 useable
Notes: This new Cessna has it all! Dual King Navcom, Glideslope, IFR GPS, 2-Axis Autopilot, ADF, 4-Place Intercom

[DaveKDEN]

Come on now, don't start it here please.

[Graywolf]

If your going to do that, try giving more details.

By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A 15-year-old student pilot took off in a small plane without permission Saturday and crashed into a skyscraper after ignoring a Coast Guard helicopter's signals to land, authorities said.

The crash occurred after Charles J. Bishop's grandmother brought him to the National Aviation flight school for a 5 p.m. flying lesson, said Marianne Pasha, a spokeswoman for Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

``The next thing the instructor knew he was gone,'' Pasha said.

Though terrorism was quickly discounted, the televised image of a plane blasting a hole in the side of a skyscraper was a chilling reminder of the World Trade Center attacks. The plane's tail dangled near the 20th floor of the 40-story Bank of America building.

One person was killed, but officials would not immediately confirm it was Bishop. It was unknown whether anyone in the building was injured.

Anyone want to read the full story here is the link.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20020105/ts/plane_crash_10.html

http://members.home.net/d.marfisi/sig.jpg

[flyinggriffin]

Sigh, another one jumps the gun. When the Airbus went down in NY, didn't we go through this then? If you also saw on the news, the lights were on in the room that plane slammed into. I was just wondering who is going to take the blame if it is determined that the kid got frightened and disoriented by the helicopter chasing him.

[btacon]

Hey Dave...I'm not "trying" to do anything here.

Fact is I posted minutes after it happened. Now that more information is in, it is not so scary, but still troublesome. Fact is it WILL have an effect on GA, which is already against the ropes. Fact is the topic was a bit over the top, but only meant to stir discussion.

Regards,

Braun Tacon
September 11, 2001
Victory In All We Do!

[btacon]

Yep...well if that had existed at 5:00est, I would have posted that rather than the Drudge rip.

Still is a sad day for GA.

Braun Tacon
September 11, 2001
Victory In All We Do!

[UKJames]

Interesting thing is how LITTLE damage the 172 did. Seemed to bust out a window and rearange the furniture a bit. Reporters seemed to be worried about fire the whole time. Trouble was all the fuel in in the wings in a 172, and they were 25 floors lower, on the ground. I really dont think this will have anyone spooked at all. We are a hardened bunch now and this was just a stupid/mixed up kid.

James Nicholas
Real World IFR Pilot

[Lou_Betti]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-06-02 AT 00:21AM (EDT)[p]Yeah, it might have some temporary impact against GA, but I'm confident that should the FAA make some dumb move, that the AOPA will come forward with their substantial money and resources and show them the error of their ways.

In the end, this incident should have zero effect on GA.

Any one remember the Egypt Air 767 suicide a few years back?

How 'bout the C-150 someone flew into the White House?

Again, it should have zero effect on GA, although the news media would like us to think so, and will try to garner ratings through such coverage, just as they did when they tried to blame MSFS for 9-11.

Regards,
[link:www.dreamfleet2000.com|http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/Forum_Banners/DF_BANNER_FORUM_LOU2.jpg]

[btacon]

True enough...

Regards,

Braun Tacon
September 11, 2001
Victory In All We Do!

[DaveKDEN]

Braun,
The trouble with posts like yours is it stirs up the pot when there's really nothing in it. My only suggestion is don't jump to conclusions. That's what the media likes to do, so leave it to them.
Dave

[btacon]

I was not meaning to "jump to conclusions", but I guess one could "conclude" that was exactly what I was trying to do.

Braun Tacon
September 11, 2001
Victory In All We Do!

[nwabri]

I think the subject of the initial post is a tad harsh, and very presumptious. I think you should have taken a moment and thought specificaly about what you were trying to say, and attempted to back it up before you just post rubbish like that. Just my .02 cents.

Brian A. Neuman
Wooodbury, MN

[btacon]

May have been a bit over the top. Perhaps cheeky.

Not rubbish my friend.

Cheers,

Braun Tacon
September 11, 2001
Victory In All We Do!