CO-PILOT PLUNGES FROM SMALL PLANE 9,000 FEET OVER TEXAS; PILOT LANDS SAFELY

The Houston Chronicle ^ | 18 November 2002

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

HOUSTON (AP) - The co-pilot of a single-engine aircraft plunged from the plane as it made a steep turn 9,000 feet over the Houston area. The 45-year-old Houston man apparently jumped or fell from the plane Sunday afternoon near Prairie View, about 20 miles northwest of Houston, federal and local authorities told the Houston Chronicle for Monday editions. An instructor pilot, the only other person on board, was concentrating on a steep turning maneuver when he heard a thump and saw the co-pilot's feet and legs leaving the airplane, Waller County Sheriff's Lt. John Kremmer told the Chronicle.

Kremmer said a search for the pilot in the area's pastures, woods and lakes was expected to resume early Monday. Officials said the Cessna 152 had taken off 45 minutes earlier from David Wayne Hooks Airport in Spring. The pilot notified authorities about the incident before returning to the airport. "The instructor and the aircraft landed safely," said Roland Herwig, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. Kremmer said the co-pilot - whose identity was being withheld pending notification of relatives - had a pilot's license but could not fly alone because of an unspecified medical condition.

The instructor pilot told investigators that both men were strapped in when the small trainer aircraft took off from the airport. "He just doesn't know at what point that changed," Kremmer said. Kremmer said there was no indication the man had a parachute.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Both strapped in? Must have been the rapture. Anyone have any information on this?

[Windsong]

Must have been the rapture...

Not yet, otherwise it would already be Judgement Day :)

[RightOnline]

".....well, I'd love to go see a movie, Bob, but...........WHUMP!!!!.........just had some unexpected company drop in....."

[bvw]

Last sentence: "Kremmer said there was no indication the man had a parachute."

A good reporter to ask that question.

[Jonah Hex]

"With a properly-coordinated ball-needle turn and 60 degrees of bank, Bob, two and a half g's will keep you in your seat without needing a seat belt."

"Now watch what happens when I let the rudder slip, Bob. Bob? Hey, Bob? Where'd you go, Bob?"

[DainBramage]

Who would have known that Joe Bob's stupidity would make it all the way to the Jerry Springer show.

"Hey Darlene...come look! Thars alien rockets crashin' out by the lanfill."

[blackdog]

Not to mention, the door in a 152 latches first, then clamps from the inside.

Never unbuckle. We found this out the hard way when approsching a mountain ridge on the windward side at a 90 degree angle. My head smashed the air ducts on the ceiling, my family was glued to the cabin ceiling.

I would suspect a suicide leaving a litigious tail.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

"Here, hold muh b_{eeeeeerrrr....}

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Coming to a theatre near you: "Jackass II: Pilot's revenge"

[Jaxter]

[cricket]

These headlines really caught my attention; reading quickly, thought the co-pilot landed safely. . .

Medical condition? Terminal? Did not like seat belts? Or something more sinister. . .More info needed no doubt to figure out what happened here.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

HAHAHAHA!!! Nice one!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I bet he jumped. Must suck to fail at suicide.

[Senator Goldwater]

No indication that the co-pilot was Terry McAuliffe.

[Ditter]

Sounds like a pretty shocking way to commit suicide.

[MeekOneGOP]

heh heh !

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I *like* that response!!! Was thinking the same thing, except your was more creative!! :)

[Ku Commando]

ROFL.......very nice !!

[MeekOneGOP]

CO-PILOT PLUNGES FROM SMALL PLANE 9,000
FEET OVER TEXAS; PILOT LANDS SAFELY

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Note:
To: self

...."yours" not "your." More coffee, please...........

[kjam22]

LOL.... you are displaying some superior HTML skills

[Mark Felton]

"I told him NOT to touch the Red Button!"

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[mhking]

"How do you make an ejector seat?"

[mhking]

[cajungirl]

Hahahha!!

[MissAmericanPie]

hahahaha

[Dallas]

LOL

[Dallas]

"Here, hold muh beeeeeerrrr.... while I get out and take a leak."

[RedBloodedAmerican]

That's the Apollo lunar module, right?

[DainBramage]

I don't know, it looks like a volvanic rock.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

unspecified medical condition

Ritalin or prozac? Place your bets!

[wingtip]

Why 9000 feet over Texas? In a 150? The copilot had to step out a while just to climb that high.

[agincourt1415]

Nearly impossible to get out of an Cessna 150 on the ground. It was a Suicide.

[Don Corleone]

DARWIN AWARD CANDIDATE?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Do they consider suicides?

[The Wizard]

call Lt.Columbo

[Diddle E. Squat]

FOB?

[SERE_DOC]

HAHO = High Altitude High Opening

HALO = High Altitude Low Opening

HANO = High Altitude No Opening (you make an impression on the ground)

[b4its2late]

Poor guy. Hopefully his family is coping.

Unfortunately for us, the same fate didn't occur to Mohammad Atta about 18 months ago when he was taking lessons.......

[willy WOXOF]

"instructor pilot, the only other person on board, was concentrating on a steep turning maneuver"

must not have been very coordinated turns..

note ..more training in steep-turns needed.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA...

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Hi there :)

Come here and check this out...

[SerpentDove]

NOT the WED ONE!!!

Don't EVER touch the WED ONE!!!

[MindBender26]

In flight, it takes tremendous exertion to open door of a Cessna 150, 152, 172 or the like. You are pushing about 1000 square inches into a 80 knot wind!

Pipers are easier (any low wind aircraft is because of laws of aerodynamics I won't do into here) But in a high wing A/C, such as Cessna mentioned above, even if unlatched, door opens about three inches and is very hard to open further.

This was no accident.

[MindBender26]

low wind=LOW WING

[wingtip]

That airport is at 152 ft. elevation. Can two men climb to 9000 ft. in 45 min in a 152? And why so high unless practicing aerobatics. Perhaps a hammerhead.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

He could have made us all winners.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I thought maybe they were doing a Chandelle

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Hmmmm