First lesson / first solo aircraft (Blackbushe Accident) ...

[Iceman]

How many of you are in the position that the aircraft in which you did your first lesson and / or your first solo is no longer with us ? As of today, that aircraft for both events for me is no more. The C152 G-BLWV engine ran down to idle at the end of the downwind for Blackbushe runway 25 with a student on his second solo circuit. There aren't many options at that point (lake and army scrub land) so he did very well to put it down, scraping a tree in the process which span the aircraft. He put out a MAYDAY call, and walked away virtually unharmed. A helicopter was on the scene quite quickly. I feel as though I have lost a big part of my aviation heritage today







Iceman

[leiafee]

Outstandingly good job to walk away from that as a solo student!

[Dave Phillips]

Outstandingly good job to walk away from that as a solo student!

Agreed. Probably a good example of flying the aircraft all the way to the ground rather than following the 'instinctive' stall.

[Hogster]

Second solo circuit? Crikey! And to get out a Mayday call too - well done that chap!

[Skyhawk-N]

That aircraft looks badly damaged considering it ended up in a relatively open clearing, albeit a very rough field. Did the 'scraping a tree in the process' account for both missing wingtips? It looks like it attempted to flew through a forest!

[Iceman]

The aircraft is actually pointing in the opposite direction from whence it came. It hit a tree on the way in which took the prop and spinner off (found later), and span the aircraft to the ground. As Dave says, the student did a very good job, flying the aircraft down to the ground, rather than stalling it in.

I believe that the student has booked his next lesson.

Sorry about the picture quality. Unusually, I didn't have my SLR on me, and had to use the cheap and cheerful mobile.

Iceman

[AndyR]

That'll bring some memories back for Ridders!!

Any landing you can walk away from......

[Peter Pan]

Bloody hell - what a nightmare that must have been. I don't like Blackbushe anyway (sorry chaps), but to have an engine go t!ts up on downwind with trees and lakesto 'land' in' would not be good. Looks like he did the right thing and didn't stall it in.

Great news he has booked his next lesson - top chap!

[Talkdownman]

I am very pleased that was survivable, and pleased to hear that the student has already booked another 'horse'.
And a 'Well Done' to the rotary crew. R22?
I also hope the tower staff are OK and not in need of CISM. Was it 'Scottish Information' ?

[DamienB]

Good result considering the alternatives... but engine quitting during downwind checks? Mixture/carb heat confusion?

Iceman - on the bright side, now you can probably buy the back end and use it for a garden ornament.

[Ashley]

Iceman - on the bright side, now you can probably buy the back end and use it for a garden ornament.

They're working out where to cut it in the middle photo for just that purpose

I'm glad the pilot is OK

[Tall_Guy_In_a_PA28]

Well done all concerned.

Looking back through my logbook, I see that I first flew 'WV on my tenth lesson, Ex 12 & 13, 25th April 1996. Continuing Icemans theme of significant flying events, it was also the first aircraft I flew as P1 post PPL. That was 15/10/96, a local flight from Redhill.

[Pete S]

Amazingly good job: also to have the cool to get out a mayday.

In response to Ice's other question: One of the Tomahawks I did my PPL in at Ipswich School of Flying was sold when Ipswich Airport closed.

The new owner wrote it off passing between some trees shortly after........

Peter

[Iceman]

And a 'Well Done' to the rotary crew. R22?

One of the downstairs lot got there first I think.

Was it 'Scottish Information' ?

I think that 'Scottish Information' was certainly in the tower today, but I don't know about 'manning' the radio.

Iceman

[Talkdownman]

One of the downstairs lot got there first I think.

Can't knock it, though, even if only to locate the casualty.

I think that 'Scottish Information' was certainly in the tower today, but I don't know about 'manning' the radio

Whoever, it's not much fun when any tower operative loses an item of traffic, believe me...

All's well that ends well.....it's only a piece of tin in the end.