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Two Oklahoma State Womens Basketball Asst. coaches die in plane crash
Almost 11 years after the OSU Mens Basketball team suffered losses in a plane crash in Colorado. (www.newson6.com) Ещё...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Title of this post is completely wrong. It was the head coach and a recruiter, not two "Asst. coaches".
Thank you Captian Obvious....note that I corrected it later. When the story first came out it was two assistant coaches.
On a just for the heck of it note, there was total confusion at first within the media but coming from law enforcement, as there were 2 plane crashes in the state, about 40 miles apart, and within about 5 minutes of each other. There was this one and also an experimental of some type that the canopy blew off of and caused a crash on departure from the Airport at Clinton AR. Both crashes were in the viewing areas of all 4 Little Rock TV stations and it took about 15-20 minutes to get it all sorted out. 2 were injured in the Clinton crash, not life threatening, and the initial report on this on with the Okla folks was 2 killed.
I fly a PA-28R-200, so the only difference between the airplane in the accident and mine is mainly a larger engine and a retractable gear on mine. That being said, I agree with the above poster, "Arun Nair", that the plane more than likely was over max gross.
On my airplane, my useful load is 934 pounds. I don't know their actual weight, but for discussion's sake, let's say the PIC weighed 180, the coach weighed 220, and the two females weighed 130 each. It's about 270 miles between PNC and Little Rock so at 10 gph at bare minimum he would have needed 30 gal, or 180 lbs.
By these crude calculations they are already at mass gross (930 lbs) before factoring in any sort of luggage, plane equipments (charts, headphones, tiedowns etc.), or excess fuel. Obviously we don't have all of the facts at this point, but since there was no report of smoke or fire (http://bit.ly/uGKm7e), I would tend to point towards fuel exhaustion. Terrible tragedy.
On my airplane, my useful load is 934 pounds. I don't know their actual weight, but for discussion's sake, let's say the PIC weighed 180, the coach weighed 220, and the two females weighed 130 each. It's about 270 miles between PNC and Little Rock so at 10 gph at bare minimum he would have needed 30 gal, or 180 lbs.
By these crude calculations they are already at mass gross (930 lbs) before factoring in any sort of luggage, plane equipments (charts, headphones, tiedowns etc.), or excess fuel. Obviously we don't have all of the facts at this point, but since there was no report of smoke or fire (http://bit.ly/uGKm7e), I would tend to point towards fuel exhaustion. Terrible tragedy.
If it was due to fuel, and the weather was VFR, why wouldn't they plan a stop to refuel. I'm not positive, but I don't think they ran out of fuel, unless that's been stated and I misread something.
Well, the article didn't say but the 6pm local news last night said they had been in LittleRock recruiting and had the dad of one of the prospects on there for an interview. That be the case, weather was VFR, cold and light wind, not 40 miles West of KLIT, should have been topped on fuel. Although mention here in this string, none of the reports say anything about fire. Makes you wonder. They are dead; guess we'll wait for the report.
I agree the FAA report will be interesting. Normally, I would quickly question one 82 y.o. pilot, bur Ms Branstetter was a pilot also. Both were reportedly very accomplished, very exerienced pilots. She held some kind of record involving arctic flight apparently. Wonder in what seat she was seated, or if we will know.
The departure from Little Rock and crash site are not very far apart. Fuel starvation that early in the flight?? But, no fire at the crash site...?
The report will be interesting, for sure.
The departure from Little Rock and crash site are not very far apart. Fuel starvation that early in the flight?? But, no fire at the crash site...?
The report will be interesting, for sure.
Well, I noticed somewhere that it said they left from Ponca City OK. Maybe he didn't top off at LIT, thinking he had enough for the round. And yeah, don't know if him or her but the plane was the one used in the Artic thing. As you say, the report will be interesting.