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Well this is very interesting,,,,,,,

A Small plane crashed Saturday on a Golf Course in Wichita Kansas, 2 Teens were in the plane they had "RENTED" .

I'm all for learning to Fly Young, not a problem with it.

But, that got me thinking,,,, most states will NOT let any Teenager Drive a Semi-Truck on Americas Hi-ways & roads by themselves, if at all for that matter even with an older Co-Driver in the cab !!

Majority of the states require you to be at least 21 years old to drive a semi truck or operate heavy equipment

Lotta states will let 16 yr.olds drive a car with a learners permit since their under 18 yrs.of age, as long as an ADULT is with them and only to from certain places.

Most states require teens to be 18 to get a plain normal drivers license for a car or pick up.

*** But this really got me : A ""17-year-old boy""was flying the 1966 single-engine Mooney / An "18-year-old" woman also was aboard.

Now maybe I'm Wrong, but at 17 yrs.old,, most are Over confident on a lotta things, and this didn't seem like a good idea to me.

unless he started Flying when he was 10 and was really super Knowledgeable on everything inside & out, which is probably doubtful, along with constantly changing weather conditions that affect Aircraft performance.

Something awful wrong with this picture, I know my Father wouldn't of let me do it, even at 18 or 21 by myself, like that,,, even tho this Kid had a female with him that was 18, that mize well be by yourself

I know when I was 17 or 18 I didn't have the MONEY to Rent a plane and go on a cross country hop, lucky to have gas to put in my 1968 Camaro to get to work across town at that age, I had car payments & ins. to pay for.

Maybe this kid has really nice lucky parents, that foot the bill for everything, and gave him use of their Credit Card too

I Dunno' but I'd think would be a Definite Concern with the NTSB & FAA,,, as to how much of this was going on ????

Flying is serious business, there are NO Quik Trips in the Sky to pull over if something goes wrong , there are NO Wal-Marts to pull into, its not fun & games hunky dory everything be ok, somehow !

Wonder who'll pay for the Damage to this plane, and the Golf Course & Towing Bill,,, hope the kid took out insurance and a lot of it !!!!!!

Think someone may get Grounded by mommy & Daddy ?????

My Father Flew for 53 years with his 1965 Cessna 172 Skyhawk without ever an incident, not 1, because he triple checked everything before & after every flight !!

PLANE CRASH NEWS STORY : http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/20/2-teens-walk-away-from-airplane-after-it-crashes-on-kansas-golf-course.html?intcmp=hplnws

Since the Mooney is considered a "complex" single (retractable gear, constant-speed prop), whoever was flying it has more than a few hours experience and has been checked out thoroughly by the owners. They have to satisfy their insurance company that they only rent their planes to qualified people. Also, consider that the boy might not have been flying anyway; he was reportedly first out of the plane, the door of which is on the passenger side. (Of course, he could have been the instructor.)

I soloed a glider at 16, earned a pilot's license at 17. Checking out every plane I flew before I took off (but just once each time) didn't guarantee I'd never have an engine failure. Sound training gave me the tools for the best chance of survival if I did. The kid (or young lady) did fine.

a 517nm Flight doesn't fall under the auspices of a "joy ride" to me; according to the A/C Owner, it was rented in Nashville and was on Approach to Jabara, so in my mind it was a legit X/C trip, if it was LEGAL.

Of course, we'll have to wait on the particulars... who had the Papers, and who was PIC; the 'boy' or the 18 yr. old 'woman'?

All in all, it could have been worse... a pancake on the Fairway is better than a pancake into an Apartment or Condo complex!

Alan

Of course, in the USA we're more than just a little schizoid about what constitutes a reasonable age for doing various things. This year, 17 year olds were allowed to vote in the Ohio primaries. Driving age varies by equipment, and sometimes by state. Drinking age is kinda fluid, too (pun intended). Just a thought...

Jetranger,

Usually, I get a good chuckle out of your rants and antics in the forums.

But this one just has me scratching my head. What kind of old coot are you turning into?

"Back in my day...blah blah blah!"
"My daddy was...blah blah blah!"
"Them damn kids are on my grass again...blah blah blah!!!"

The plane was supposedly piloted by a person legally allowed to do so. There was an accident, and the pilot correctly did what his/her training taught them....Find open ground and try not to die when you crash!!

The authorities and insurance companies will investigate, and I'm willing to bet that the AGE of the pilot will not be questioned as a cause of the accident.

You can't compare the learning and permitting systems of DRIVING and FLYING. they are two completely different things. there are many jack asses given drivers licenses, but I have yet to meet a jack assed pilot.

I guess what I'm saying is, leave ageism out of it. It's just as bad as any other 'ism.

Hi Jetranger! I just came across this topic ( unfortunately I've been busy dealing with other stuff and haven't been cruising the forum lately)
Anyway, I thought I'd add the following info to the discussion. Sorry I didn't read this sooner.


U.S. FEDERAL REGULATIONS
TITLE 14—Aeronautics and Space
CHAPTER I—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)

SUBCHAPTER D—AIRMEN

PART 61 CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTIORS

Subpart E—Private Pilots

§61.102 Applicability.

This subpart prescribes the requirements for the issuance of private pilot certificates and ratings, the conditions under which those certificates and ratings are necessary, and the general operating rules for persons who hold those certificates and ratings.

§61.103 Eligibility requirements: General.

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:

(a) Be at least 17 years of age for a rating in other than a glider or balloon.

(b) Be at least 16 years of age for a rating in a glider or balloon.

What is the minimum legal age for "breeding" purposes?

I may need to do some more "practice" lessons again.... ....!

Paul..... ... ...!

Hawkeye07 wrote:Hi Jetranger! I just came across this topic ( unfortunately I've been busy dealing with other stuff and haven't been cruising the forum lately)
Anyway, I thought I'd add the following info to the discussion. Sorry I didn't read this sooner.


U.S. FEDERAL REGULATIONS
TITLE 14—Aeronautics and Space
CHAPTER I—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)

SUBCHAPTER D—AIRMEN

PART 61 CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTIORS

Subpart E—Private Pilots

§61.102 Applicability.

This subpart prescribes the requirements for the issuance of private pilot certificates and ratings, the conditions under which those certificates and ratings are necessary, and the general operating rules for persons who hold those certificates and ratings.[YouTube][/YouTube]

§61.103 Eligibility requirements: General.

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:

(a) Be at least 17 years of age for a rating in other than a glider or balloon


(b) Be at least 16 years of age for a rating in a glider or balloon.

How does this tie in with doing your "solo" at a very young age, as this 14yo in this vid, I wonder?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMG1trzznHg[/youtube]

UPDATE : 4/2/2016

NTSB: Empty fuel tank likely cause of Wichita plane crash on Golf Course


News Story update : http://www.kmbc.com/news/ntsb-empty-fuel-tank-likely-cause-of-wichita-plane-crash/38836002


The report said a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported finding "NO Fuel" in the 'left fuel tank" but some in the right tank.
A "switch" used to toggle from one gas tank to the next was "turned off".


So Dat's what Dem' Der' Switches is fer' - Jephro' , I'd thought Granny would of told ya' dat' !!!!

MMM... a 17 year old male + an 18 year old female = new members of the MiLE HiGH CLUB!!

Plenty of much older, more experienced pilots wind up with dry tanks, or forget to switch tanks (even after the engine sputters with some fuel left in the other tank)... hard to attribute it to his youth.
And when you consider that he didn't panic, but made a safe "arrival" in an area more-or-less suitable, I'd say he showed some good training and maturity.
The weakest point here is his failure to lean on his training instinctively- "switch tanks" is a checklist item for loss of power in any aircraft with multiple tanks and a fuel selector. Or maybe that wasn't hammered into his skull deeply enough during his training. Obviously, he also didn't properly plan the flight, as regards fuel endurance... but taking off without enough does not guarantee and emergency, if you catch it in time.
The young lady may have provided a "reasonable distraction", although usually not anticipated as such in the PTS!! But regardless, if you have two tanks and the engine sputters, you switch tanks, after checking mixture, mags hot, carb heat off, primer in and locked, and fuel pump on (if applicable).
I'll bet good money that this kid will NOT make that mistake again!!

beaky wrote:Plenty of much older, more experienced pilots wind up with dry tanks, or forget to switch tanks (even after the engine sputters with some fuel left in the other tank)... hard to attribute it to his youth.
And when you consider that he didn't panic, but made a safe "arrival" in an area more-or-less suitable, I'd say he showed some good training and maturity.
The weakest point here is his failure to lean on his training instinctively- "switch tanks" is a checklist item for loss of power in any aircraft with multiple tanks and a fuel selector. Or maybe that wasn't hammered into his skull deeply enough during his training. Obviously, he also didn't properly plan the flight, as regards fuel endurance... but taking off without enough does not guarantee and emergency, if you catch it in time.
The young lady may have provided a "reasonable distraction", although usually not anticipated as such in the PTS!! But regardless, if you have two tanks and the engine sputters, you switch tanks, after checking mixture, mags hot, carb heat off, primer in and locked, and fuel pump on (if applicable).
I'll bet good money that this kid will NOT make that mistake again!!

Switching Tanks, Sean... ...!

Something that we are familiar with on our motorbikes when steaming down the Freeway/Motorway and our engine suddenly coughs and splutters with lack of fuel as we frantically fumble to switch our Petcock from "Main" to "Reserve" before the engine finally dies.....and the 18-wheeler behind us, runs into us!!

The good news:

At least we are always travelling at ground level!

Motorbike tip: Always make sure that you have the Petcock turned to "Main" before you start your journey off... ...!

..and always make sure that you have petrol in the tank!... ....!

Paul.... ...!

Fozzer wrote:

beaky wrote:Plenty of much older, more experienced pilots wind up with dry tanks

Switching Tanks, Sean... ...!

Something that we are familiar with on our motorbikes when steaming down the Freeway/Motorway and our engine suddenly coughs and splutters with lack of fuel as we frantically fumble to switch our Petcock from "Main" to "Reserve" before the engine finally dies.....and the 18-wheeler behind us, runs into us!!

The good news:

At least we are always travelling at ground level!

Motorbike tip: Always make sure that you have the Petcock turned to "Main" before you start your journey off... ...!

..and always make sure that you have petrol in the tank!... ....!

Paul.... ...!

Many moons ago I had a couple of motorbikes, although oddly, they disappeared after I got a ring on my left hand, but I digress. I had just got my first a CB125 Twin when I was out and about and the engine just died. I looked in the tank and saw the fuel level was good. Long and the short, I had to push my steel horse five miles home. My mistake.......the fuel cock had "Main" and "R". Apparently it turns out, "R" stood for "Reserve" and not "Right" as in right hand side of the tank.......Remember I said there was fuel in the tank....on both sides........

Matt