Your thoughts?

[Standby 1]

I'm wondering your thoughts out there on a situation...two weeks ago, my father was killed in a plane crash that occured at Martin Field up in Washington State. One of the items I had to take care of while up there was the removal of the aircraft wreckage, which took me 3 days since the FAA/NTSB had to release the wreckage to me and then I needed an additional 3 days because I had to dismantle the aircraft (take the wings and tail off so it could be trucked over to my hangar for storage).

Martin Field is a small field with a single owner who has a small flt school on the premises. The aircraft wreckage was moved (by the flt school owner) over to the flight line, I assume out of necessity since he never asked my permission or informed me he was doing so. I didn't have a problem with this, of course, because it certainly made the job of dismantling it easier and there were about 20 unused tie down spots so I was out of everyone's way.

Today I received a bill from the flight school charging me for tie down fees for the length of time the aircraft was there. Keep in mind that this is a very small town up there where they knew my father - he bought his gas there, for heaven's sake.

So I guess what I'm wondering is if I'm just being overly emotional and unnecessarily upset over receiving this bill. It's not about the money, mind you, I'm more than willing to fork that over. It just seems to danged insensitive and tacky.

Am I way out of line here?

 

[350DRIVER]

Standby 1,

I am extremely sorry to hear about your loss and I can only hope that you and your entire family are handling this as well as can be expected given the tragic circumstances. It is sad when you hear about the loss of a fellow aviator let alone this being your own father, atleast he is now in a better place.

I would not pay this guy a single dime if I were you, atleast not now. It is pretty disgusting and sad that he is even asking you for payment at such a trying time that you are currently going through. It shows he lacks true professionalism and class. I would tell him to go fly a kite if I were you but obviously that is a call that you have to make.


"Tacky" is an understatement..


3 5 0

 

[Ailerongirl]

Standby1

You have my deepest condolences over the loss of your father, and I don't feel that you are being overly emotional at all! I agree 100% with 350Driver...tacky is an understatement.

Playing devil's advocate for a minute though, is there a chance that someone (ie an accounts person) at the FBO drew up the bill unknowingly? Perhaps, even as tacky as it is, it was a genuine error on their part?

Either way I don't feel that under the circumstances you owe them anything.

 

[Capt. Tex]

is there a chance that someone (ie an accounts person) at the FBO drew up the bill unknowingly?

I seriously doubt it if it was a small town and everybody knew him. They knew exactly what they were doing when they drew up that bill. Very tacky....

 

[Jmmccutc]

I seriously doubt it if it was a small town and everybody knew him. They knew exactly what they were doing when they drew up that bill. Very tacky....

agree...don't pay a dime, and my condolences to you and your family...

 

[bobbysamd]

Tacky

. . . . . is the only word that fits for this jerk's lack of consideration and compassion. I, too, would not pay the bill. I most certainly would give this owner a piece of my mind, in particular for moving the aircraft without your permission.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Best wishes as you work through this tragedy.

 

[:-)]

Standby1, Truly sorry about the loss of your Father.

About the flight school jerk. I assume the the aircraft in question is yours because the bill was sent to you. I would ask the NTSB and the airport authority if they were responsible for asking the flight school to handle the wreckage. If so, I would inform the school that he needed to send his bill to the person/organization that requested his services. If no one requested that he become involved, I think that I might just threaten to sue him because his actions caused you to suffer long term mental anguish because he deprived you of the opportunity to come to closure about the exact state of the aircraft at the time of your fathers death. Sort of like moving a shrine before the pilgrams got to visit it.

If the aircraft was your fathers, I'd politlely inform the jerk, that his bill would be considered along with all of the other liabilities when the estate was settled. And then I'd ignore it.

I will guess that the jerk only sent the bill in hopes that some non-attached person, such as your fathers legal counsel, would see it and pay it withour thinking. If not, then I (if I was you) would just publish the flight schools name right here, so that we all can send him nastygrams.

 

[bobbysamd]

Estate liabilities

If the aircraft was your fathers, I'd politlely inform the jerk, that his bill would be considered along with all of the other liabilities when the estate was settled. And then I'd ignore it.

I was a probate, estates and elder law paralegal for about five years. This is a good point. Most state probate laws provide for a claims period during which claims against an estate can be submitted. After the claim period closes, the P.R. has a time period during which he/she can decide if the claim will be accepted or rejected. If the claim is rejected, the claimant can decide if he/she wants to petition the probate court for an order directing payment.

I, again, would not pay this bill on general principles. But, from a legal standpoint, the suggestion given above is good advice. Be sure to discuss it with your late father's probate attorney.

Once again, best wishes.

 

[ibaflyer]

If the aircraft was your fathers, I'd politlely inform the jerk, that his bill would be considered along with all of the other liabilities when the estate was settled. And then I'd ignore it.


I second or third this statement.

I am also sorry to hear about you loss. My sincere condolences.

I went through this about 2 years ago. My next door neighbor and his wife were both killed in an aircraft accident. I helped their two children with some of these same problems. Just inform them that the bill will be paid when the estate is settled and if they have any questions concerning the bill they should be forwarded to your estate attorney.

Again. you have my deepest sympathies.

 

[LJDRVR]

Sorry about your Dad. I wish you and your family peace and understanding.

 

[Traumahawk]

My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family.
According to author Pete Fusco, he's no doubt been issued a little red bi-plane based on a 5000ft celestial grass runway.

I don't know what a bunch of hangar flyin' junkies can do for you but if we're able to help with anything during such a tough time I'm sure everyone would agree to just ask.

I'm completely speechless about this jerkoff who took it upon himself to drag private property to a tiedown spot of his choice and promptly charge you for it. Let alone it being the remnants of such a tragic situation. It's just plain disgusting. I'd say this is grounds for a letter to every aviation magazine and organization out there. Boycott the hell outta that place.

Best Regards and Condolences....
T-Hawk

 

[steveg]

My thoughts and prayers go to you and your family.


How about posting which airport and FBO this is. I'd like to politely inform this person what I think of his practices, that he is an embarassment to humanity, and I for one will never visit his facility. If enough others feel like me.....

 

[Flywrite]

I'm speechless at the lack of compassion displayed by this flight school.

It's tragic to hear about any fatal accident, but when it directly affects someone in this virtual pilot's lounge we all hang out in it's even more tragic.

My deepest condolences to you and your family.

 

[sky37d]

I have lost way to many people that were close to me, and this is a terrible time. To have someone do what they have done is unconscionable. (I know I didn't spell that right).
Please post the name of the FBO. The name of the school.
Then call AOPA. Then we'll all call AOPA. Then tell us the name of the local paper.

Talk about insensitive. Do NOT pay the bill.

I know. You told us where it is. Martin Field Airport, S95, College Place, Washington, USA. The FBO is Cheney Aviation, 509-522-1847.
I'll call tomorrow. I'll call monday. Let's have everyone call on Monday. Tell them they are jerks.

 

[Traumahawk]

Here Here

 

[bobbysamd]

I have lost way to many people that were close to me, and this is a terrible time. To have someone do what they have done is unconscionable. (I know I didn't spell that right).

Actually, you did spell it correctly.

Good points and well-stated.

 

[Crizz]

Standby1 - God bless.


Others - Be very careful before shooting your mouth off at a random FBO. Think about the position it would put Standby1 in if it was in fact a screw up on the FBO's part. He hasnt been back since his original post, so let the man give you some direction before you compromise his credibility.

Now, if the FBO purposely and knowingly did what they did, may they rott in hell.

 

[Standby 1]

My many thanks go out to all of you. I was unsure if I was simply being too emotional and feel better knowing I was right to be affronted by these people.

Yes, it is Cheney Aviation at Martin Field in Walla Walla, WA. In the bill they sent there was a small handwritten note thanking me for getting the wreckage out of the way, so I'm sure the bill wasn't a mistake. Since the wreckage was there for more than 6 days (it was there 8 days), they informed me their policy was to charge me for the entire month tie down.

I'll get busy writing those letters. Thanks for that idea.

Thank you for the condolences; it has been a trying time. We are still unsure of what exactly happened, other than there was a power loss immediately after takeoff. He made a climbing turnout at approximately 200-300 agl, the plane then leveled, developed a high sink rate and then pancaked in. The NTSB is currently running the carburetor through testing. He was flying the aircraft he built for me, an experimental RV8 with a 220 hp Franklin engine in it. The engine compression checked ok, fuel ok, mags ok, mixture ok. We're narrowing it down.

Fathers and daughters always seem to have a special relationship and we were especially close. He was my hero. He died doing what he loved (and passed that love of flying on to me) and I was lucky to have known him.

Thank you again....all of you.

 

[sky37d]

I would think phone calls are now in order

 

[slide33]

Standby,

Here is something I would consider - if you feel your family would be willing to deal with any publicity on the matter.

Call your local news station(s). Around here, the news station likes to highlight stories of the local public getting "screwed" by jerk-offs. The last thing these cockroaches want is a spotlight shown on their shady practices.

Nothing like some bad publicity to jerk @-holes back in line.

Just a suggestion.