Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
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By Kittyhawk
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1688935
4 missed approaches at Republic and 2 at JFK, then ran out of fuel after 5 hours airborne. JFK weather was 1/8th mile in fog, sky obscured.

Three occupants survived the crash of a Cessna 172 into a Long Island suburb Sunday night, according to reports in the New York Post. The 1977 Cessna 172N was on a flight from Niagara Falls, New York, to Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York.

According to reports, the aircraft was rented from a flight school at FRG by Dongl Kim, 27. Kim was returning to Republic but could not land in the fog. "They attempted to land at Republic Airport, they missed the runway four times, they were redirected into Kennedy, they missed the runway twice at Kennedy—as they came around, they ran out of fuel," police commissioner Patrick Ryder said.


The ATC recording makes for disturbing listening https://forums.liveatc.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=15275.0;attach=10323
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By Iceman
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#1688944
Knowing that you are running out of fuel, I don't understand why you wouldn't continue down the ILS below minima to do if necessary a 0/0 landing. You have a landing system at JFK which is certified to the ground. Following the needles all the way to the ground and if necessary crashing on / near the runway in what is a clear area with fire cover has got to be infinitely better than crashing randomly into an unknown built up area.

Iceman 8)
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By 2Donkeys
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#1688951
Iceman wrote:Knowing that you are running out of fuel, I don't understand why you wouldn't continue down the ILS below minima


Lots we don't know of course, but one thing about the last mile or so of an ILS is that those needles get far more sensitive than they are whilst you are still up in the 600-1000 AGL range.

The knowledge that you are close to the ground can rightly induce fear if the needles start to drift from the crossed position and you are still in cloud.
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By akg1486
#1688958
KeithM wrote:Passengers were visitors from Korea?

Another sad case of get-there-itis?

I've had to cancel scenic flights I planned (and "promised") for long distance visitors w/o the possibility to reschedule since they went home. Not so easy to do, but necessary. I can see why someone might risk it to give their friends/co-workers/business partners a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Edited to add: Not that I'm saying that's what happened here. Glad everyone is more or less ok, though.
Last edited by akg1486 on Wed Apr 17, 2019 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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By KeithM
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1688972
I can see why someone might risk it to give their friends/co-workers/business partners a once-in-a-lifetime experience.


People do, sadly, and probably without ever having disputed the notion of death also being a once-in-a-lifetime experience, including their own.
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By PeteSpencer
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1688978
2Donkeys wrote:
Iceman wrote:Knowing that you are running out of fuel, I don't understand why you wouldn't continue down the ILS below minima


Lots we don't know of course, but one thing about the last mile or so of an ILS is that those needles get far more sensitive than they are whilst you are still up in the 600-1000 AGL range.

The knowledge that you are close to the ground can rightly induce fear if the needles start to drift from the crossed position and you are still in cloud.


But he was apparently a CPL and first officer on commercial stuff.
Keeping the needles centred should not be too much of a problem as he slipped below minima.
As ice says better to splat on a wide expanse of flat tarmac than dangling from power cables in a residential area.
But what do i know....

Peter :roll: