Private pilot walks away after crash landing in Camden

[Quickstatus]

Private pilot with girlfriend manages to hobble away after crash landing a Piper Cherokee VH-SWV shortly after takeoff from CDU
The aircraft was owned by a local CDU aero club. 40 year old airframe with new engine

I'm sure he has impressed girlfriend one way or another. Aero club spokesman said pilot did everything right before ATSB has begun investigations. Aircraft damaged. Probably write off.

Do light planes have airbags to mitigate injuries?

 

[Boris spatsky]

Hmm reporting tonight is that both in intensive care in critical condition.

As for airbags, i believe the Cirrus might.

 

[AviatorInsight]

I flew a C182T (not turbo, just the model), and I recall that had some nifty gadgets in there including airbags around the lap sash. Very similar to what you'd find in a J class seat.

Good thing they were able to walk away from this one.

 

[Quickstatus]

What airbags in J class lap sash?

 

[AviatorInsight]

What airbags in J class lap sash?

Like this one.

 

[Quickstatus]

Which airline?

 

[AviatorInsight]

This one was on a China Airlines B777-300ER. It is also in the new Virgin Australia safety demo (they just mention it and can't quite get a good picture of it). Maybe it's just a B777 thing?

 

[kelvedon]

Cathay J has them.

 

[Paulr248]

Private pilot with girlfriend manages to hobble away after crash landing a Piper Cherokee VH-SWV shortly after takeoff from CDU
The aircraft was owned by a local CDU aero club. 40 year old airframe with new engine

I'm sure he has impressed girlfriend one way or another. Aero club spokesman said pilot did everything right before ATSB has begun investigations. Aircraft damaged. Probably write off.

Do light planes have airbags to mitigate injuries?

Hi Quickstatus, I was the pilot of that aircraft which crashed in Camden, thought id make an account to reply to your post but turns out I have an account already which I hadnt touched... anyway- thank you for being one of the only people ive seen that mention that my girlfriend and I weren't fighting for life (eg the news that Boris saw via tv presumably). It made me tremendously anxious what my friends and family would think hearing all of this news spread around. Anyway- your report is much closer to the truth than others- my girlfriend suffered a broken foot and I had a dislocated wrist and fractured ankle. Whilst definitely not fun, we could indeed hobble away from the crash with the help of the local emergency personel (A NSW police chopper conducting training in the area landed 10 seconds after us). To answer your question, light planes are generally of the flavour which i was flying that day; 20-40 year old airframes without any modern safety equipment. Newer aircraft manufacturers such as Cirrus offer seat belt airbags, and aftermarket makers are also finding their way into the light aircraft market. I would say of the light planes flying around, especially in Aus, 9/10 would NOT have any such airbags.

Since I'm still in awe that someone managed to get the correct information- do you recall where you heard about the plane crash and that we could hobble away?

 

[Quickstatus]

Hi Quickstatus, I was the pilot of that aircraft which crashed in Camden, thought id make an account to reply to your post but turns out I have an account already which I hadnt touched... anyway- thank you for being one of the only people ive seen that mention that my girlfriend and I weren't fighting for life (eg the news that Boris saw via tv presumably). It made me tremendously anxious what my friends and family would think hearing all of this news spread around. Anyway- your report is much closer to the truth than others- my girlfriend suffered a broken foot and I had a dislocated wrist and fractured ankle. Whilst definitely not fun, we could indeed hobble away from the crash with the help of the local emergency personel (A NSW police chopper conducting training in the area landed 10 seconds after us). To answer your question, light planes are generally of the flavour which i was flying that day; 20-40 year old airframes without any modern safety equipment. Newer aircraft manufacturers such as Cirrus offer seat belt airbags, and aftermarket makers are also finding their way into the light aircraft market. I would say of the light planes flying around, especially in Aus, 9/10 would NOT have any such airbags.

Since I'm still in awe that someone managed to get the correct information- do you recall where you heard about the plane crash and that we could hobble away?

Hi Paulr248,

Welcome!! And well done for preserving life as an aviator!!
I don't recall where I got that info from - I certainly do not know anyone involved that day. I believe it was a news report.

There is an "ask the pilot" thread. Maybe you might want to join the "panel of experts" sometime!.

 

[Paulr248]

Hi Paulr248,

Welcome!! And well done for preserving life as an aviator!!
I don't recall where I got that info from - I certainly do not know anyone involved that day. I believe it was a news report.

There is an "ask the pilot" thread. Maybe you might want to join the "panel of experts" sometime!.

Thanks mate, I appreciate the kind words. I won't sell myself short by saying it was completely blind luck, but I often think about how fortunate we were that it wasn't infinitely worse (e.g. post crash fire with 120 litres of aviation gasoline onboard)... ill be sure to check out that thread haha always keen to help out!

 

[Quickstatus]

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/ask-the-pilot-30478.html

Will be great to have someone from GA mix it with the jet boys/girls