Whats he up to?

[Al_Fallujah]

It sounds like he is trying to fake his own death.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479305,00.html

I wonder if its a small scale DB Cooper, or something.  He ran with some cash, and is trying to fake his death, or collect insurance or something.

He never reported he bailed, but they are thinking he did based on RADAR.   I think thats impressive they can see that.

[beaky]

Seems he's trying to run away from some serious legal and monetary problems... and he chose a fantastically stupid way to do it.
Even if he hadn't tipped his hand, the NTSB would have been able to prove he was not in the plane at the time of impact, so he'd probably still have gone through all that trouble for nothing... he'd still just be on the run.

Then there's the risk- a Malibu is a low-wing single; very dicey to bail out of, even with the AP engaged. It would be very easy to hit the tail on your way out.

BTW, I'm sure the FAA's determination that he bailed out is based on the unoccupied plane's radar track, rather than being able to spot a man under a canopy with ATC radar.

[pepper_airborne]

Seems he's trying to run away from some serious legal and monetary problems... and he chose a fantastically stupid way to do it.
Even if he hadn't tipped his hand, the NTSB would have been able to prove he was not in the plane at the time of impact, so he'd probably still have gone through all that trouble for nothing... he'd still just be on the run.

Then there's the risk- a Malibu is a low-wing single; very dicey to bail out of, even with the AP engaged. It would be very easy to hit the tail on your way out.

BTW, I'm sure the FAA's determination that he bailed out is based on the unoccupied plane's radar track, rather than being able to spot a man under a canopy with ATC radar.

He probably bailed out by trimming up the nose and cutting the throttle back, and then made a roll out of the plane as WWII pilots were trained to do, although i have no idea how high he was flying or the type of chute he was wearing, and i cant really imagine being able to correctly put on a chute when wounded. The chances of missing a strap should very much increase. Also, most pilot chutes ive seen are put on before flights since the pilot actually sits on the bag carrying the shute..

[Al_Fallujah]

Was reading an update.
He has realized he screwed up, and that they know he is still very much alive.

He sent an email to someone implying he wants to kill himself.

The he took off on a motorcycle he had stashed.

He is working very hard to convince people he is either dead or will be soon, all the while trying to dissappear.

I think he is headed to the border before he can be brought up on charges.

[beaky]

Seems he's trying to run away from some serious legal and monetary problems... and he chose a fantastically stupid way to do it.
Even if he hadn't tipped his hand, the NTSB would have been able to prove he was not in the plane at the time of impact, so he'd probably still have gone through all that trouble for nothing... he'd still just be on the run.

Then there's the risk- a Malibu is a low-wing single; very dicey to bail out of, even with the AP engaged. It would be very easy to hit the tail on your way out.

BTW, I'm sure the FAA's determination that he bailed out is based on the unoccupied plane's radar track, rather than being able to spot a man under a canopy with ATC radar.

He probably bailed out by trimming up the nose and cutting the throttle back, and then made a roll out of the plane as WWII pilots were trained to do, although i have no idea how high he was flying or the type of chute he was wearing, and i cant really imagine being able to correctly put on a chute when wounded. The chances of missing a strap should very much increase. Also, most pilot chutes ive seen are put on before flights since the pilot actually sits on the bag carrying the shute..

Good luck getting out of a Malibu after rolling it onto its back... with any cabin plane it would be tough. Fighter pilots could open or jettison the canopy, undo their seat harness, and roll inverted so they could simply fall out.
That being said, the guy probably had a sport or emergency parachute rig... such as pilots wear. They are a lot easier to sit on than a static-line bag, so he probably put it on before taking off.

[Hagar]

Good luck getting out of a Malibu after rolling it onto its back... with any cabin plane it would be tough. Fighter pilots could open or jettison the canopy, undo their seat harness, and roll inverted so they could simply fall out.off.

I don't think pepper_airborne meant to roll the aircraft. According to the report it continued flying on autopilot for over 200 miles after it was abandoned. I believe the door on the Malibu is in the rear cabin, behind the wing. Once the pilot managed to get back there, strap on his parachute & open the door it looks easy enough for him to dive or roll out of it.

This is not the photo I was looking for but it shows what I mean. http://www.aeropartners.com/Malibu-Info.htm

[pepper_airborne]

Good luck getting out of a Malibu after rolling it onto its back... with any cabin plane it would be tough. Fighter pilots could open or jettison the canopy, undo their seat harness, and roll inverted so they could simply fall out.off.

I don't think pepper_airborne meant to roll the aircraft. According to the report it continued flying on autopilot for over 200 miles after it was abandoned. I believe the door on the Malibu is in the rear cabin, behind the wing. Once the pilot managed to get back there, strap on his parachute & open the door it looks easy enough for him to dive or roll out of it.

This is not the photo I was looking for but it shows what I mean. http://www.aeropartners.com/Malibu-Info.htm

That is indead what i meant, not rolling the aircraft, that is a bad idea in any thinkable situation, since the plane will want to go the same direction as you are.

[Brett_Henderson]

Very bizarre...  It looks like he intended for the pilot-less airplane to run out of fuel over the Gulf of Mexico..  If that had happened, he might have pulled this vanishing act off.. or at least bought enough time to make a cleaner getaway..


Now, it's just a matter of time before he's picked up, or turns himself in.

[ShaneG_old]

I just saw on the morning news that he has been arrested.

[pepper_airborne]

Well, he can say he tried and got theT-shirt