Fact Checking Nelson's "Doors Of Death" light aircraft near death experience

[Dr Moore]

I see your point. Was Fillmore in operation in 1976? And if they were not at least halfway to SGU as the crow flies, then how do you explain the one and only "vivid" recollection Nelson has of pilot communication with passengers?

Fillmore, Delta and Nephi airports were all built during ww2 to support the war effort.

Interesting. Depending on the precise location of the rough engine and failure determination, I can see where it may have been closer to Fillmore vs Delta. I guess it would have depended on other factors, if a close push distance-wise between the two airports?

[kairos]

Perhaps either was a choice for the pilot but Delta may have been more
“familiar” to the pilot or perhaps his airline had services available at Delta rather than Fillmore.
We are talking “rough engine “ not fiery engine.

And Dr Moore - your honorary PHD in small aircraft operations and accident analysis has been approved by the Cassius University faculty and is awaiting DR Scratch’s signature- good work!

k

[Dr Moore]

And Dr Moore - your honorary PHD in small aircraft operations and accident analysis has been approved by the Cassius University faculty and is awaiting DR Scratch’s signature- good work!

Entirely too generous a nomination, kairos. If anyone should receive an honorary award, then our first-year PhD student, ko9s, deserves automatic dissertation approval for the groundbreaking research, despite at first drawing incorrect conclusions from the data.

[azflyer]

Interesting. Depending on the precise location of the rough engine and failure determination, I can see where it may have been closer to Fillmore vs Delta. I guess it would have depended on other factors, if a close push distance-wise between the two airports?

Certainly. When making a precautionary/emergency landing, the pilot would need to take into account all kind of things. Distance to airport, wind direction/speed, and runway length / width are probably the most critical factors. As Dr. W has pointed out, landing a twin with one engine not operating off field is a recipe for disaster. If all of those factors are a wash, then you can start thinking about things like what kind of services are available at each airport and whether the location is "convenient". But the safe landing needs to take priority over the convenience factors.

[DrW]

Certainly. When making a precautionary/emergency landing, the pilot would need to take into account all kind of things. Distance to airport, wind direction/speed, and runway length / width are probably the most critical factors. As Dr. W has pointed out, landing a twin with one engine not operating off field is a recipe for disaster. If all of those factors are a wash, then you can start thinking about things like what kind of services are available at each airport and whether the location is "convenient". But the safe landing needs to take priority over the convenience factors.

Landing in a farmer's field is a recipe for disaster no matter what. Successful off-airport landings in light aircraft are most often made on paved roads or highways. As was noted earlier, with the landing gear extended, there is a high risk that the nose gear will dig in to soft soil and flip the aircraft.

Landing on soft soil or sand surfaces can be a problem even for tail draggers. Our pilot friend and his wife found this out in his Cessna 140, when the mains dug into soft sand on a beach in the San Juan Islands and flipped the plane. No one was hurt and the plane was eventually made airworthy again (little Cessna tail draggers don't land at high speeds). The way in which his wife described the events to my wife, however (perception again) led to some delay in her flight training.

Here is the image of a perfectly airworthy (both engines operating) Navajo Chieftain from upthread after a "successful" (no injuries) landing in a farm field. The crew decided not to take a chance on flipping the aircraft and opted for a gear-up belly landing. The aircraft was a total loss.

[kairos]

Is there anyone on other boards trying to bail Nelson’ story out of the pit of fiction? If so what rationale is being used.
by the way did you hear that Nelson wants to recreate the near death flight on 11 Nov of 2021 so that he can thank God for the miracle recovery of the plane and its passengers. To make the flight authentic in Nelson’s mind , a pilot , a plane and an hysterical woman parts are being auditioned for in the theater department in the church office building.
If the actual flight cannot be replicated,a virtual reality application is being developed and will be made available to members of the church who can use it and sense as Nelson did the calmness of leading a virtuous life or experience the hysteria of a woman about to kiss the ground at 100mph.
Will keep you posted or may not!
k

[DrW]

Deleted. (Pretty sure Kairos is joking about the movie, but decided not to take the chance.)

[Philo Sofee]

Is there anyone on other boards trying to bail Nelson’ story out of the pit of fiction? If so what rationale is being used.
by the way did you hear that Nelson wants to recreate the near death flight on 11 Nov of 2021 so that he can thank God for the miracle recovery of the plane and its passengers. To make the flight authentic in Nelson’s mind , a pilot , a plane and an hysterical woman parts are being auditioned for in the theater department in the church office building.
If the actual flight cannot be replicated,a virtual reality application is being developed and will be made available to members of the church who can use it and sense as Nelson did the calmness of leading a virtuous life or experience the hysteria of a woman about to kiss the ground at 100mph.
Will keep you posted or may not!
k

Interpreter would be the ones to film this faith promoting wonderful and spirit filled proof of Nelson being Godly...

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Speaking of death spiral tropes, my wife and I are watching Star Trek Insurrection because it’s better than ESPN the Ocho. In the first act, Picard and Warf secure a shuttlecraft to Data’s runner causing Data to react poorly, and he ends up throwing both of them into a Death Spiral! And better yet, they manage to ‘restart the engines’ and pull out of it at the very last moment!

The only thing missing was Dr. Beverly Crusher screaming hysterically and JLP looking out the window calmly, secure in his knowledge that Q is real.

- Doc

[Moksha]

by the way did you hear that Nelson wants to recreate the near death flight on 11 Nov of 2021 so that he can thank God for the miracle recovery of the plane and its passengers. To make the flight authentic in Nelson’s mind , a pilot , a plane and an hysterical woman parts are being auditioned for in the theater department in the church office building.

I would like to suggest the title, Where Seagulls Dare.