Wednesday, June 02, 2021

Lots Of Money Doesn't Replace Good Judgment And Experience

Otherwise known as how to Smack Up A Multi-Million Dollar Aircraft The Easy Way.

Flying: NTSB Reports Don’t Always Reveal the Complete Story

In short, a pilot with all of 46 hours in a Cessna 172 immediately transitions to a Piper M600.  

The Piper M600 is a whole other breed of aircraft compared to a 172, it's very high performance, retractable gear, and did I mention high performance? -  It demands an experienced pilot who can keep up with it.

So the very newly minted pilot rejects Piper factory training and doesn't have an IFR rating.   In the two and a half months he has the plane, he gets 56 hours of training with an instructor on the M600 which apparently isn't enough.

On his first flight on his own, he has a very bad landing, and since the insurance industry understands risk -   he has no insurance on the aircraft.

He manages to have the nose-wheel depart the aircraft due to a high speed landing and incorrect technique, and cause substantial damage to the aircraft.

To paraphrase Ferris Bueller:  He didn't deserve such a fine aircraft.

9 comments:

Matthew W said...

Hokey Smokes !!!!!!!!

"Depending on numerous factors, the average price for a pre-owned PIPER M600 is $2,000,000.00. A $1,365,900.00 loan over 120 months including $5691.25 per month in interest equates to a $68,491.30 per-period payment. Based on 450 annual owner-operated hours and $4.25-per-gallon fuel cost, the PIPER M600 has total variable costs of $281,475.00, total fixed costs of $53,463.00, and an annual budget of $334,938.00. This breaks down to $744.31 per hour."

Midwest Chick said...

He has no insurance because he doesn't have his IFR or high performance rating, I'd bet. Plane insurers require certain qualifications. And you're right, he didn't deserve such an aircraft.

Nuke Road Warrior said...

Arrogance and money, a fatal combination. One reason the Beechcraft Bonanza earned the nickname of "V-tailed doctor killer"

Aaron said...

Matthew W: Yes it's not a cheap aircraft to own or operate by any means. For it to be the first aircraft to be owned right after you've got your private pilot's license is just plain nuts.

Midwest Chick: Yes indeed. I expect he got the high performance endorsement during those 56 hours flying it with an instructor. But, not having an Instrument ticket for a plane designed to operate in instrument conditions is a complete waste plus another indication he was behind in flying it.

Nuke Road Warrior: Yep, if the money let's you step into something you're not qualified for yet it opens a lot of opportunities for disaster.

B said...
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drjim said...

From a Skyhawk to a Malibu with only 46 hours?

Geez....talk about more money than brains.....

B said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aaron said...

drjim: Yep, it's the veritable example of more money than brains right there.

Old NFO said...

Teh stoopid/ego was strong with that one... Lucky he survived!