Pilot Made Fatal Choice in Midair Crash

Scatzkc

03:38 PMAug 11 2009

Sorry BForr thought you said you were atc. Now then let me clear up something for you...THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A VFR CLEARANCE! There is a svfr clearance to exit a control zone or to enter class d airspace given a set of very restrictive rules, but never in 20 years have I ever issued a vfr clearance, only suggestions to a vfr pilot to avoid airspace or terrain, or a saftey alert and then suggested altitude or heading changes to avoid the threat.

Jeff Walsh

03:36 PMAug 11 2009

I think it comes down to an element of risk and perhaps some bad choices or decisions. I do not buy the notion that it is someone's "time". That is for the movies. If you die of natural causes, it was your time. If it is an accident... it is an unfortunate set of circumstances not "your time". It is simple bad luck. Sometimes fault can be assigned (murder), sometimes it is just an accident (like the jogger who was hit by a fauling tree limb), and sometimes, like with this crash, it is a combination of faults and accident. Here either a risk taking pilot was a main cause or two pilots each made different decisions that together created a crash. On the surface it sure seems like the pilot of the plane is the one who was most wrong here and those who died died not because it was their time or that pilot's time, but because the pilot wasn't being careful enough. If I never fly in a helicopter, that's fine with me... for me, there is not enough to gain from the experience to ta...

REECEGSWOFFORD

03:34 PMAug 11 2009

Homeland Security after 911 allows air traffic on the Hudson. .... & now you want the Feds to control Health Care! Just ask a Vet how he oe she likes the VA system. Look America, send the Mexicans home. Close the Borders! Get out of Iraq and out of Afghanistan, Out of Korea, Out of Germany, Out of Japan. Bring all troops home, control our borders and cut taxes 50%!. CAP Doctor pay! Cut Nukes 80%....double Nuclear Energy, Drill Baby and we will have full employment....Oh, Shoot Drug Dealers on site!

Scatzkc

03:31 PMAug 11 2009

Here is what the NTSB will conclude. The pilot of the piper failed to see and avoid the helicopter colliding with it from behind. The pilot of the piper never made radio contact with the air traffic controllers at newark for possible traffic advisories. The pilot of the piper was distracted, confused or simple unaware of the other aircraft until impact. Failure to maintain awareness in a VFR enviroment. Case closed.

BForr

03:30 PMAug 11 2009

Scatzkc 03:19 PMAug 11 2009 BForr me thinks you were never a controller!!!! Asking a pilot his choice or aquiring pilot intentions is NEVER a clearance...HE WAS VFR, therefore would never have nor expected to have an IFR clearance!! The controller was advising him of his TWO vfr options to avoid the airspace, and the PILOT advised the controller of his intentions in a VFR enviroment!.................... If you read my last post you'd know I am not, and never was a controller... however, having used the system for 35 years, I think I know how it works. (Currently still based in Newark) I never said anything about an IFR clearance. But if you receive a VFR clearance, it still sticks from a legal standpoint. You must inform ATC if you are going to deviate from that clearance.

Jgamble28

03:30 PMAug 11 2009

What a shame but accidents happen, were all human

GRAMS432

03:28 PMAug 11 2009

THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE ORGANIZED CRIMINALS. I HOPE THEY ALL PAY FOR THIS MOCKERY OF HEALTH CARE. LOW LIFES OF THE WORST KIND THEY DESERVE PRISON SENETENCES.

Dskaalrud5

03:22 PMAug 11 2009

Talk about stating the obvious: of course the pilot made a fatal choice in the midair crash, duh.

Scatzkc

03:19 PMAug 11 2009

BForr me thinks you were never a controller!!!! Asking a pilot his choice or aquiring pilot intentions is NEVER a clearance...HE WAS VFR, therefore would never have nor expected to have an IFR clearance!! The controller was advising him of his TWO vfr options to avoid the airspace, and the PILOT advised the controller of his intentions in a VFR enviroment!

BForr

03:19 PMAug 11 2009

Norlap666 02:42 PMAug 11 2009 BForr says: "the government will institute 50 more rules and regulations, and the accident rate will remain the same..... however, it will cost you the consumer more for the services."~~~~~ Republican speak for "Lets abolish all Laws & Rules and go back to the Wild West, just hang horse thieves!"THE POINT IS, LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS DON'T MAKE ANYTHING SAFER.... INSTITUTE COMMON SENCE LAWS FOR THE STUPID PEOPLE WHO THINK GOVERNMENT CAN FIX EVERYTHING