Ameristar Fatal Crash Last Night

[Rook]

RIP guys.

As a former YIP fr8dog that used to fight over the crappy recliners with AJI guys while waiting for fr8 all those years ago, Godspeed. Another excuse to tap the bottle. Be safe out there guys.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

May both of you Rest In Peace. I never knew the guys, but a fellow pilot is a fellow pilot. Godbless. Your families are in my prayers.

 

[dshghs]

I would like to thank all those who have written wonderful things about our husbands. You all knew them as fellow pilots and us wives where blessed with the rest. Dan loved to fly and knew that would be the way he checked out, doing what he loved. He didn’t think it would happen until our son was a pro motocross star but knew someday it would. I will be in Dallas at Terry’s service and hope to see all you Ameristar pilots there. My thoughts are with all you freight dogs.

 

[osy007]

Was it really Terry Patty?

He has been sending me photos of his Lear 25 to put on my website. He just emailed me, a week ago, about a Lear 45 job he just got. I cant believe what I'm hearing.

If anyone could let me know, I would appreciate it. PM please.

 

[pilot125]

Wishing everyone who knew these two guys-family, friends and coworkers- to be strong and keep their memory and legacy alive!

Everyone out there please be careful and fly safe, hopefully when the final report comes out, no matter what the cause, we can learn from it and become more aware of the inherent dangers of these airplanes and what we do for a living, and come to appreciate things more, and appreciate life for what it is.........

And to the wife who replied in this post, you are a very brave person, and you are in all of our thoughts.

 

[big_al]

what a sad story, very tragic.

 

[dshghs]

Do what the chart says and you won't HIT mountains.

I will not do a visual approach at night PERIOD

Let me say I am not a fan of these type forums simply because of stupid people like you Falcon20driver! I am a former co-worker of Dan and know first hand of his flying abilities and to read this sh.. you wrote and others like Hammer2 it makes me want to beat the stupidity out of you but I don't have 30 years to waste! I fly freight and people in a B747-400 and can attest that if I had my choice of who sat beside me I would have preferred Dan over several guys I fly with right now.This is a tragic loss for both of these guys families and statements that have been made that suggest that they took short-cuts is simply un-called for.My deepest sympathy goes out to the wives and children left behind.

 

[jobear]

Let me say I am not a fan of these type forums simply because of stupid people like you Falcon20driver! I am a former co-worker of Dan and know first hand of his flying abilities and to read this sh.. you wrote and others like Hammer2 it makes me want to beat the stupidity out of you but I don't have 30 years to waste! I fly freight and people in a B747-400 and can attest that if I had my choice of who sat beside me I would have preferred Dan over several guys I fly with right now.This is a tragic loss for both of these guys families and statements that have been made that suggest that they took short-cuts is simply un-called for.My deepest sympathy goes out to the wives and children left behind.

Here here! Couldn't said it better.

 

[Freight Jock]

The Webmaster has removed my other post regarding the Memorial Fund.

If you haven't already noticed, the Webmaster has removed the thread "Donation Fund for Hughes and Patty family (Ameristar Crash)". He said there have been too many hoaxes recently; therefore, the lawyers have recommended that the thread be removed from the Flightinfo Message Board.

If you need further information regarding the Memorial Fund, please send me an email to [email protected].

Thanks,

Freight Jock

 

[falcon20driver]

Let me say I am not a fan of these type forums simply because of stupid people like you Falcon20driver! I am a former co-worker of Dan and know first hand of his flying abilities and to read this sh.. you wrote and others like Hammer2 it makes me want to beat the stupidity out of you but I don't have 30 years to waste! I fly freight and people in a B747-400 and can attest that if I had my choice of who sat beside me I would have preferred Dan over several guys I fly with right now.This is a tragic loss for both of these guys families and statements that have been made that suggest that they took short-cuts is simply un-called for.My deepest sympathy goes out to the wives and children left behind.

Three fatal Learjet accidents in less than 6 years, the first two were pilot error, maybe this one was and maybe it wasn't, but 3 pilots, maybe 5 now have died and one badly injured because of flying fast strait into the ground. At this rate in two to three years they're do another fatal Learjet accident, if someones life is saved by reading my post than it did some good.

 

[stupidpilot]

Here here! Couldn't said it better.

Falcon20 Driver hasn't a clue. I've done alot of approaches in Mexico and the majority of the are suspect for jet aircraft. I had to do one in MMIO where you cross the vor go out to a certain DME and then teardrop back to it. At the altitude for the procedure calls for and performing a 30 deg bank at 180 kts you WILL hit the mountains. We were in & out of the clouds during the turn and I saw they were getting very close. I had to really crank the turn around to avoid them. So it could easily be the lousy oversight of their ATC system. I've never trusted anything down there. The people are very nice, but attention to detail is not one of their strong suits.

 

[G21Agoose]

May God bless them and their families. RIP.

 

[Freight Jock]

Fox News Detroit Interview of Elizabeth Hughes (Dan's wife)

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/p...n=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1

 

[Amish RakeFight]

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/p...n=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1

Geeez...
Putting a couple of faces (and voices) with this crash really makes me feel extremely bad.

Sorry for all of your loses. Sounds like Dan was a good guy, accomplished and will be missed by many.



.

 

[dshghs]

Since I am the captains wive and have been in loop the entire time and you have not, don't speculate. The plane was on the correct heading, when it hit the ground the tail flew off and laded facing 154 degrees. Thanks for starting a visious rumor. Next time do some home work and get the facts or keep your mouth shut.

Thank you,

Mrs. Hughes

Daytonaflyer!

I don't know where you get these rumors from:

It was also determined that their heading was approximately 70 degrees off their assigned heading at the time of impact.

Please don't post heading guesses until we hear some more accurate information!!
(Tapes between ATC and the plane and radar pictures)

My prayers goes out to TP's and DH's families.

 

[davidciarochi]

Three fatal Learjet accidents in less than 6 years, the first two were pilot error, maybe this one was and maybe it wasn't, but 3 pilots, maybe 5 now have died and one badly injured because of flying fast strait into the ground. At this rate in two to three years they're do another fatal Learjet accident, if someones life is saved by reading my post than it did some good.

You may have a point here, but this is neither the time or place for such a topic. I flew with Mr. Hughes for the better part of two years at one time. I use much of what I learned from him every day, not to mention the rare occaison I end up in Mexico. What may have happened there could happen at any time to any of us. God bless both families and those who are supporting them.

Fly safe.....

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Rumors schmumers. Whether they were on the correct heading or not, terrain clearance in Mexico and most of the world is the responsibility of the crew. If it was a problem with the airplane, that's just the risk you take with this job, be it fair or not. Tragic accident, nonetheless.

 

[svcta]

Let me qualify this statement by saying that this is not meant to slight anyone's capabilities or to be disrespectful. And really it has nothing to do with this particular event, tragic as it is. No matter how good someone is at their job, no matter what they've seen or done before, or how many times they've been in that situation....mistakes get made. Once in a while they'll kill you. The rationalization of "he was too good to go out like that" just usually turns out not to be true to put it bluntly.

With that in mind let's remember to never stop running our mental checks. Especially in places like Mexico. I hated flying down there when I couldn't see in front of me.

 

[halfbank]

Dan, farewell good buddy. Attending your memorial service today was very hard. I was looking forward to you flying with me in my beat up old 747-200 freighter. I remember discussing your experiences at Ameristar and how it was just like my experiences flying for Cherry Air years ago. You lived your life to the fullest. We have all been blessed to know you. You are now able to fly free. I look forward to joining you up there someday, but 'til then watch over us... Joe

 

[dshghs]

He was to good to have something like this happen. I was married to the man for 13 years and have flown with the man countless hours. This was no mistake, something else happened and they will find out what.

Let me qualify this statement by saying that this is not meant to slight anyone's capabilities or to be disrespectful. And really it has nothing to do with this particular event, tragic as it is. No matter how good someone is at their job, no matter what they've seen or done before, or how many times they've been in that situation....mistakes get made. Once in a while they'll kill you. The rationalization of "he was too good to go out like that" just usually turns out not to be true to put it bluntly.

With that in mind let's remember to never stop running our mental checks. Especially in places like Mexico. I hated flying down there when I couldn't see in front of me.

 

[hammer2]

Mrs Hughs you and your family are in my families prayers. judging byall these post he was one heck of a good guy.

 

[stupidpilot]

Rumors schmumers. Whether they were on the correct heading or not, terrain clearance in Mexico and most of the world is the responsibility of the crew. If it was a problem with the airplane, that's just the risk you take with this job, be it fair or not. Tragic accident, nonetheless.

The point is you should be able to trust the aircraft because the owner is supposed to maintain it properly. Aircraft crashes due to poor or sloppy maintenance are unacceptable. That is not one of the risks you should have to take in this job. So quit talking out your A$$ you didn't know either of these men or anything of their capabilities!

 

[BGSkyGuy]

Pilot error, faulty maint, bad controllers......

Regardless of how it happened our ranks are two pilots short. My condolences to the families, didn't know them but sounds like they were great guys to share a cockpit with. RIP...................

 

[falcon283]

Dear Mrs Hughes,

Please be careful during your conversations with Ameristar Management, trust me! In my opinion she will act like a friend, only for a short time.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Dear Mrs Hughes,

Please be careful during your conversations with Ameristar Management, trust me! In my opinion she will act like a friend, only for a short time.

What he said.

 

[b19]

You should have absolutely no conversations with their management, refuse any and all invitations to to be interviewed by anyone. Make no more statements here or elsewhere. And when all of your personal family needs have been met and you have had some time to yourself, interview several well qualified and well financed (independant experts are extremely expensive) aviation attorneys with extensive federal court experience and then make an informed decision as to how best to proceed for the sake of you and your family.

Although I don't know you and am an ocean and continent away my prayers are with you dealing with such a horribly sudden tragic loss.

One final thought that took me years to understand after my own very poor response to dealing with a tragic loss was the statement by Robert Frost, that he could sum up the meaning of life in three words "It goes on".

 

[stupidpilot]

Dear Mrs Hughes,

Please be careful during your conversations with Ameristar Management, trust me! In my opinion she will act like a friend, only for a short time.

I strongly agree. Companies in these situations are always about damage control and how best to mitigate the negative impacts as how it affects them. They don't really care about the pilot or his family no matter what they say. Sad, and unfortunate but true.

 

[Flyguyz69]

Dear Mrs Hughes,

Please be careful during your conversations with Ameristar Management, trust me! In my opinion she will act like a friend, only for a short time.

I agree 100%!!! Stacy Muth and TW aren't to be trusted at all. All they care about is making money even if it ruins all of their pilots and families lives. I heard that hours after the crash, TW came in and asked the dispatchers who was getting quotes. Get a lawyer and let them do the talking for you.

 

[Flyguyz69]

Anyone still working there hear any similar stories? How did they handle the other 2 fatal crashes? Didnt the girl who survived sue them?

 

[dshghs]

What he said.

I have nothing to say to Ameristar other than Thank You. They have been nothing but kind and have done thier absolute best to return my husband to me. I am very grateful for all they have done. Now it's time to let the healing begin and rasie mine and my husbands children the way he wanted me to. There is nothing I can do about what happened it's done and I must now concentrate on our babies. I thank you all for all the wonderful things you have said about our husbands. Hope to see all you guys in Dallas.