Hannah Luce: Woman is Sole Plane Crash Survivor After Rescue by Marine Friend

[WILCO]

http://gma.yahoo.com/hannah-luce-woman-sole-plane-crash-survivor-rescue-080517707--abc-news-topstories.html

[MtGun44]

That model Cessna is a real handful in an engine out situation. This class of light twins
has just enough power on one engine when loaded to get the aircraft to the scene of
the crash. A 401 will be 50 yrs old now and complex enough to be very expensive to
keep in top shape. Not attacking the pilot or the design, just saying that this sort of a
very complex old airplane with very unforgiving engine out performance is a risky airplane
to fly in. The pilot did very well to not do the "standard" (common error) Vmc roll, he
kept it upright and put it down intact enough that - but for the fire, several of the pax
would have made it, maybe everyone. Sounds like the Marine was a real hero of the
first order, and made something good out of an ultrabad situation. Stall speed on the
401 is about 100 mph, so putting down an aircraft in a field at something over 100
is really bad business, not like dropping a C150 in at 45 mph or less.

Semper Fi, indeed. Well done, Marine, I salute you.

Bill

[EMC45]

This story brought a lump to my throat. These kids were on their way to a ministry conference. They died in service to their faith and the King of Kings. Semper Fi!