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Co-pilot plunges from small plane
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This poor SOB is dead, and all I can do is roll around on the floor laughing. I'm a horrible person!
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (AP) -- A man who plunged 9,000 feet from a small plane as it made a steep bank had apparently jumped, authorities said Monday. Russell Filler, 47, the plane's co-pilot, turned the controls of the single-engine Cessna 152 over to his flight instructor Sunday afternoon, then asked him to turn the plane sharply so he could get a better look at the ground, Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith said.
Smith said Filler then opened the cockpit door and unfastened his seat belt as the plane flew over a rural area about 45 miles northwest of Houston.
"The instructor had looked away for a moment, then heard a noise and looked back to see the guy's feet disappearing out the door," Smith said.
Filler's body had not been found Monday and there was no indication he had a parachute, said Lt. John Kremmer of the county Sheriff's Department.
"There was no accidental exit from the aircraft," Kremmer said. The instructor, who was aboard the aircraft so Filler could update his pilot's license, radioed the Federal Aviation Administration and safely landed the plane, Smith said. Authorities searched Monday for Filler's body by air and ground over a 20 square-mile area.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (AP) -- A man who plunged 9,000 feet from a small plane as it made a steep bank had apparently jumped, authorities said Monday. Russell Filler, 47, the plane's co-pilot, turned the controls of the single-engine Cessna 152 over to his flight instructor Sunday afternoon, then asked him to turn the plane sharply so he could get a better look at the ground, Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith said.
Smith said Filler then opened the cockpit door and unfastened his seat belt as the plane flew over a rural area about 45 miles northwest of Houston.
"The instructor had looked away for a moment, then heard a noise and looked back to see the guy's feet disappearing out the door," Smith said.
Filler's body had not been found Monday and there was no indication he had a parachute, said Lt. John Kremmer of the county Sheriff's Department.
"There was no accidental exit from the aircraft," Kremmer said. The instructor, who was aboard the aircraft so Filler could update his pilot's license, radioed the Federal Aviation Administration and safely landed the plane, Smith said. Authorities searched Monday for Filler's body by air and ground over a 20 square-mile area.
add it up
I just don't see it happenning like it seems. How the hell do you not notice someone getting ready to jump out. If you are doing a steep turn with the passengers wing low, where are you looking? Besides the scan of the cowling on the horizon, you are also looking at the ground yourself to see what you are flying over.
I wonder if the passenger worked for Enron?
I just don't see it happenning like it seems. How the hell do you not notice someone getting ready to jump out. If you are doing a steep turn with the passengers wing low, where are you looking? Besides the scan of the cowling on the horizon, you are also looking at the ground yourself to see what you are flying over.
I wonder if the passenger worked for Enron?
chawbein
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The guy didn't fall, he jumped if indeed he did exit the airplane while in flight. My money is the CFI landed on some private strip (there are a bunch within 10 mile of where he "fell"), the guy got out and headed to Mexico. His wife will collect the life insurance, and meet him there while the CFI enjoys the fruits of his labor. Getting ratings and time at a few hundred bucks a pop from the $20k payout he received for saying the guy just "fell out"...
Conspiracy Theory!!!!!
Conspiracy Theory!!!!!
Huck
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I worked with a guy in the 80's that tried this. He was in a Cardinal at cruise speed, and couldn't squeeze out the door before the other pilot grabbed him.
Any jump pilot will tell you it would be pretty darn hard to squeeze out of a production door at normal steep turn speeds without some enthusiastic slipping.
By the way, that guy recovered and later became a fanatical skydiver! Life is strange....
Any jump pilot will tell you it would be pretty darn hard to squeeze out of a production door at normal steep turn speeds without some enthusiastic slipping.
By the way, that guy recovered and later became a fanatical skydiver! Life is strange....
TXCAP4228
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Steep turns at 9000 feet
From avbug:
Either the media misreported the altitude, the instructor mis stated it, or its some kind of alien abduction.
From avbug:
avbug, the elevtation all around Houston is less than 200 feet. To get to 9000 feet in a 152, first you have to get out of class B and then climb. With 2 people, figure an average climb of 400 feet per minute to 9000 feet plus (22 minutes) plus the time to get out from under class b (estimate another 15 minutes?) That almost 40 minutes just to do steep turns. No way.
Either the media misreported the altitude, the instructor mis stated it, or its some kind of alien abduction.
Stingman
Rock or Something
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AP:
RUSSELL EDWARD Filler, a 47-year-old engineer for a NASA contractor, became a suspect when federal authorities traced a NASA laptop computer to his home. The computer disappeared Oct. 25.
He was contacted by federal authorities Thursday. On Sunday, Filler went to Hooks Airport because he needed more hours to renew his pilot’s license.
Filler turned the controls of the single-engine Cessna 152 over to his flight instructor, then asked him to turn the plane sharply so he could get a better look at the ground, Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith said.
Smith said Filler then opened the cockpit door and unfastened his seat belt as the plane flew over a rural area about 45 miles northwest of Houston. The instructor looked away for a moment, and when he looked back he saw Filler’s feet going out the door. Filler’s body has not been found.
Filler told authorities last week that he bought the computer for $500 through an ad posted in a grocery store, said Harris County sheriff’s Capt. Robert Van Pelt.
Van Pelt said Filler turned on the computer and saw that it had some non-sensitive NASA software on it, but he kept the computer. Filler admitted he knew the computer was stolen, Van Pelt said.
Filler worked for United Space Alliance since 1996 in the contractor’s integrated test and verification group, which does ground testing for the international space station.
Waller County Sheriff’s Department Lt. John Kremmer said officials are not officially calling the fall a suicide, but “there was no accidental exit from the aircraft.”
Federal officials inspected the Cessna, but found nothing wrong with its cockpit door latch or with the seat belt, Smith said. The investigation and the search for the body were continuing, authorities said.
RUSSELL EDWARD Filler, a 47-year-old engineer for a NASA contractor, became a suspect when federal authorities traced a NASA laptop computer to his home. The computer disappeared Oct. 25.
He was contacted by federal authorities Thursday. On Sunday, Filler went to Hooks Airport because he needed more hours to renew his pilot’s license.
Filler turned the controls of the single-engine Cessna 152 over to his flight instructor, then asked him to turn the plane sharply so he could get a better look at the ground, Waller County Sheriff Randy Smith said.
Smith said Filler then opened the cockpit door and unfastened his seat belt as the plane flew over a rural area about 45 miles northwest of Houston. The instructor looked away for a moment, and when he looked back he saw Filler’s feet going out the door. Filler’s body has not been found.
Filler told authorities last week that he bought the computer for $500 through an ad posted in a grocery store, said Harris County sheriff’s Capt. Robert Van Pelt.
Van Pelt said Filler turned on the computer and saw that it had some non-sensitive NASA software on it, but he kept the computer. Filler admitted he knew the computer was stolen, Van Pelt said.
Filler worked for United Space Alliance since 1996 in the contractor’s integrated test and verification group, which does ground testing for the international space station.
Waller County Sheriff’s Department Lt. John Kremmer said officials are not officially calling the fall a suicide, but “there was no accidental exit from the aircraft.”
Federal officials inspected the Cessna, but found nothing wrong with its cockpit door latch or with the seat belt, Smith said. The investigation and the search for the body were continuing, authorities said.
Txcap,
Quite obviously it was an alien abduction. Everybody knows that abductions from moving airborne aircraft (vs. nonmoving airborne aircraft) don't take place until above at least 8,500 MSL; almost certainly this was a cooperation between the instructor and the alien entities. After all, who hasn't had a student who has become so frustrating that one wouldn't recommend him or her for a good "probing"? My guess is that the student will turn up with a certain value of time missing from his wristwatch.
Txflyer, I've bailed out of lots of Cessna's (mostly 182's, 206's, and 208's)...and always made jokes before, during, and after. Years ago on special occasions it was chic to take the name of a dead jumper before departing the door. Every jumper knows and understands the phrase, yelled very loudly before exit, "Blue Skies, Black Death!", and it's always said with a big grin, a whoop, and a holler.
It's a little rough without the parachute, but one *does* get an extra fifteen seconds of freefall, and there's no charge for a reserve repack...
I always thought it would be a neat way to solo a student. Climb out on the downwind, instead of getting out by the side of the runway. It would make a great story for that student years down the road, if he or she survived the shock. The picture of the expression on their face as the instructor climbs out the door would be priceless (and potentially incriminating). Never tried it, but one of these days...
Quite obviously it was an alien abduction. Everybody knows that abductions from moving airborne aircraft (vs. nonmoving airborne aircraft) don't take place until above at least 8,500 MSL; almost certainly this was a cooperation between the instructor and the alien entities. After all, who hasn't had a student who has become so frustrating that one wouldn't recommend him or her for a good "probing"? My guess is that the student will turn up with a certain value of time missing from his wristwatch.
Txflyer, I've bailed out of lots of Cessna's (mostly 182's, 206's, and 208's)...and always made jokes before, during, and after. Years ago on special occasions it was chic to take the name of a dead jumper before departing the door. Every jumper knows and understands the phrase, yelled very loudly before exit, "Blue Skies, Black Death!", and it's always said with a big grin, a whoop, and a holler.
It's a little rough without the parachute, but one *does* get an extra fifteen seconds of freefall, and there's no charge for a reserve repack...
I always thought it would be a neat way to solo a student. Climb out on the downwind, instead of getting out by the side of the runway. It would make a great story for that student years down the road, if he or she survived the shock. The picture of the expression on their face as the instructor climbs out the door would be priceless (and potentially incriminating). Never tried it, but one of these days...
Sonic Cruzer
FLY BOEING!
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Comedy = Tragedy + Time
Suicide?
Well geez, I used to do ISS Ground Testing. It all makes sense now!
In memory of Mr. Freefall:
The ENGINEER - Author Unknown
An engineer stood at the Pearly Gates,
His head was bent and low.
He meekly asked the man in white
The way he had to go.
St. Peter said, "What have you done on Earth
That you should come up here?"
"I was an engineer on space station
For many, many years."
St. Peter opened wide the gates
And gently pressed the bell.
"Step inside and choose a harp -
You have served your time in Hell."
Suicide?
Stingman said:
Well geez, I used to do ISS Ground Testing. It all makes sense now!
In memory of Mr. Freefall:
The ENGINEER - Author Unknown
An engineer stood at the Pearly Gates,
His head was bent and low.
He meekly asked the man in white
The way he had to go.
St. Peter said, "What have you done on Earth
That you should come up here?"
"I was an engineer on space station
For many, many years."
St. Peter opened wide the gates
And gently pressed the bell.
"Step inside and choose a harp -
You have served your time in Hell."
Last edited:
LR25
Its just a vintage VW
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- Posts
- 1,641
Im sure most of you have had a door pop open an a cessna or other small plane, it aint that easy to open it up with the air and prop blast. This is a pretty wierd senario.
Most 150's I have flown have the patented "pop" when you open the door, you think the guy in the captains seat would have heard something before looking over to see his feet go.
Maybe it was O2 deprivation? Who knows.
Most 150's I have flown have the patented "pop" when you open the door, you think the guy in the captains seat would have heard something before looking over to see his feet go.
Maybe it was O2 deprivation? Who knows.
The body of the pilot has been found. Of course this is all speculatation for now regarding that it was the pilot. However, it was found in the same area they were flying on sunday.
Here is an article:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/111902_local_pilotplunge.html
Here is an article:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/111902_local_pilotplunge.html
Sonic Cruzer
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ClassdAviator
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TwinTails
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There we were at 9000 ft when all of a sudden the cabin exploded in a maelstrom of dust, dirt and fog. The warm confines of the cockpit were shattered by the frigid arctic temperatures of our lofty altitude.
My mind raced.......what is happening? Then it hit me....EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION!!!!!!
At the altitutudes I fly in the 152, it's always a demon....lurking, hiding, always ready to rear it's ugly head.
In an instant my years of pilot training took control of my actions. I reached for the O2 mask, but in the clouded cockpit it could not be found. I knew at this altitude I had only seconds before I would pass out. I pushed the yoke forward to dive to a lower altitude.
The noise was deafening. I could hear the the Mighty 152 groan and shriek in agonizing pain as we dropped from the sky. I glanced down at the airspeed indicator...MY GOD!!!, we were doing over 120kts!!!!! At this speed I knew she wouldn't hold together much longer.
As the cockpit began to clear and the air warm, I somehow knew I would be okay. I would live to tell the tale of how I cheated death on this fine November day. I would live to regale this story at some cocktail party, summer BBQ or share it with my pilot brothers on some aviation message board.
Today was not my day to die. It was at that time I looked over and to my horror noticed my student was missing. He had been there only seconds before. A sickening feeling swept over my body as I realized the obvious. He had been sucked out of the plane in the violent chain of events.
My student always spoke of his love for flight and ironically mentioned just before we took off "If I should go before my time, I hope it's in a plane".....I guess today was his day....
My mind raced.......what is happening? Then it hit me....EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION!!!!!!
At the altitutudes I fly in the 152, it's always a demon....lurking, hiding, always ready to rear it's ugly head.
In an instant my years of pilot training took control of my actions. I reached for the O2 mask, but in the clouded cockpit it could not be found. I knew at this altitude I had only seconds before I would pass out. I pushed the yoke forward to dive to a lower altitude.
The noise was deafening. I could hear the the Mighty 152 groan and shriek in agonizing pain as we dropped from the sky. I glanced down at the airspeed indicator...MY GOD!!!, we were doing over 120kts!!!!! At this speed I knew she wouldn't hold together much longer.
As the cockpit began to clear and the air warm, I somehow knew I would be okay. I would live to tell the tale of how I cheated death on this fine November day. I would live to regale this story at some cocktail party, summer BBQ or share it with my pilot brothers on some aviation message board.
Today was not my day to die. It was at that time I looked over and to my horror noticed my student was missing. He had been there only seconds before. A sickening feeling swept over my body as I realized the obvious. He had been sucked out of the plane in the violent chain of events.
My student always spoke of his love for flight and ironically mentioned just before we took off "If I should go before my time, I hope it's in a plane".....I guess today was his day....
Singlecoil
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MetroSheriff
Hittin' the road...
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MetroSheriff
Hittin' the road...
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