Introspective on a recent crash...

[sgtstakem]

I try and read all the news copy on aircraft crashes/incidents and most of the time feel like I am left wishing I knew more detail on the situation. Unfortunately a majority of what we get is the "FAA has been dispatched, could be months before we know the cause" In the interest of self preservation and as an inexperienced pilot I feel I'M somehow trying to put it together so I don't make the same mistakes or learn from others...IMHO this is a great and sad survival account of a recent bird down.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/carmichael-plane-cowan-2238661-wife-friends

[keith]

Prelim report is here: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20081020X74013&key=1

The aircraft was carrying 4 people.  The weight of those passengers, the bags, and fuel aboard (if known) will be looked at closely.  Rwy 22 at Catalina slopes uphill (1.69%) for the first 2000ft.  Temperature was ~5 degs above standard.  I'm having a hard time picturing the specific effect of a 1.69% slope (not sure what that looks like), but it can't help.

It's always so sad to read about such accidents. I really hope they are able to determine a probable cause so that we can learn from it.

[KSYR-pjr]

Rwy 22 at Catalina slopes uphill (1.69%) for the first 2000ft.  Temperature was ~5 degs above standard.  I'm having a hard time picturing the specific effect of a 1.69% slope (not sure what that looks like), but it can't help.

Not sure if this will help, but this picture was taken back in 2003 by a relative of mine as we flew on the downwind to land there.  Unfortunately my relative switched to the video camera on final, which had the still camera been used that vantage point would have provided a better idea of the slope, but you can get an idea from this side view: