Posted by Richard Malcolm on January 03, 2002 at 15:18:15:
In Reply to: plane crash posted by fisherman on January 03, 2002 at 13:52:02:
: Does anybody have a Briland/N. Eleuthera perspective on the recent plane loss?
WE had some fairly close friends on that airplane, including my Goddaughter's brother who was the one fatality. One other is just out of ICU at Hollywood memorial and going to be okay with repaired pelvis and some plastic surgery on her face.
I was hoping that perhaps the problem was mechanical, ie failed sump drain or busted (leaking) fuel line, etc. BUT a good friend of mine in the aviation world in Lauderdale tells me from information available there it appears it was, as reported, strictly pilot mis management re fuel supply. That being the case there was absolutely no excuse for the event.
I have been a pilot for 37 years in the Bahamas.
I am proud to have met the "old pilot" category
(being the avialtion adage.."there are old pilots and their are bold pilots, but their are NO OLD BOLD PILOTS" This pilot will no doubt lose his airmans certificate.
There is fuel at North Eleuthera. Flight path between N. Eleuthera (MYEH) and Ft Lauderdale (KFLL) takes one almost directly over two very usable air strips. Great Harbour Cay and Bimini
and about 10 miles north of Chub Cay airport. To have taken off with questionable fuel levels is unnaceptable, but to continue flight past three airports (even tho they themselves may not have fuel) without landing is the worst of pilot judgement. OF course we still do not have the confirmed facts so in defense perhaps there is a reason he did not land to be on the safe side. Lets hope. Apparently the company that owned the airplane is reputable and based at Executive Airport, Ft Lauderdale. But so far information is not sounding very good.
The other thing that really bothers me is IF the aircraft left Florida with full fuel, I do not see how that model Navajo could possibly use up the fuel load on a 385 NM round trip UNLESS their was either some sort of leak...or he did not take on full fuel at departure so as to manage a heavy load on that leg...in which case he should have, of course, purchased some fuel while at N. Eleuthera.