Red Bull Aerobatics team crash today

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Red Bull Aerobatics team crash today

Posted: 1/25/2020 12:20:24 AM EDT

https://reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/etkvmj/red_bull_chambliss_team_accident_guatemala_24/

More videos in the news article linked in the Reddit comments.

Posted: 1/25/2020 12:39:07 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 1/25/2020 12:48:35 AM EDT

[#2]

That sucks, and took some people on the ground with him. :( Seeing the plane splash into the pond hits close for me. I lost a friend when he balled up at the end of the runway and cartwheeled into a farmer's pond and drowned in 4 feet of water. :(

Posted: 1/25/2020 5:13:01 AM EDT

[#3]

Damn what a terrible way to go. Even worse for the folks on the ground.

Posted: 1/25/2020 6:55:55 AM EDT

[#4]

The guy had some credentials, assuming the early articles are correct and it's Steve Andelin.

http://www.teamchambliss.com/news/red-bull-air-race-indianapolis-pre-race-2

Filling in at Indy will be California-based Steve Andelin, whose deep expertise includes not only licenses as an aircraft mechanic and aircraft inspector, but also a degree in aeronautics, two years on the United States Aerobatic Team, a win at the US Unlimited Aerobatic Championship, and serving as a Boeing 787 international captain for American Airlines. Further, Andelin has been a test pilot for Zivko Aeronautics, the company that manufactured Chambliss’ Edge 540 V3 raceplane.

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Posted: 1/25/2020 9:09:46 AM EDT

[#5]

Seems to me he was not supposed to be so close to the spectators. Perhaps he had a control problem he couldn't overcome.

Posted: 1/25/2020 9:39:23 AM EDT

[#6]

Sucks all the way around.

Posted: 1/25/2020 10:25:12 AM EDT

[#7]

Not an avn expert, doesn’t the canopy look “empty” (I.e. pilot not conscious)?

Posted: 1/25/2020 11:32:08 AM EDT

[#8]

This thread made my heart sink, as I know a few members of the ‘Redbull Air Force’, a few of them well. I did not know this pilot, but friends of mine certainly did. He was obviously well qualified, but there’s not much margin left when doing that kind of thing so low.

Sad day none the less.

Posted: 1/25/2020 2:33:22 PM EDT

[#9]

Yep.

You fuck around long enough, you'll eat it eventually.

Not trying to be a dick, it's just the reality of aviation.

Posted: 1/25/2020 3:02:50 PM EDT

[#10]

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Not an avn expert, doesn’t the canopy look “empty” (I.e. pilot not conscious)?

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No, the pilot sits at the rear of the canopy.

Posted: 1/25/2020 10:35:46 PM EDT

[#11]

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Yep.

You fuck around long enough, you'll eat it eventually.

Not trying to be a dick, it's just the reality of aviation.

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Lots of aerobatic and test pilots(even joe blow pilots) have flown an entire career without incident.

So, no, it's not the reality of aviation.

There's a risk, but it's not a given that you'll die.

Posted: 1/26/2020 8:22:23 AM EDT

[#12]

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Quoted:
Lots of aerobatic and test pilots(even joe blow pilots) have flown an entire career without incident.

So, no, it's not the reality of aviation.

There's a risk, but it's not a given that you'll die.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Yep.

You fuck around long enough, you'll eat it eventually.

Not trying to be a dick, it's just the reality of aviation.

Lots of aerobatic and test pilots(even joe blow pilots) have flown an entire career without incident.

So, no, it's not the reality of aviation.

There's a risk, but it's not a given that you'll die.

Gee, I sure hope you’re right!!!

Posted: 1/26/2020 10:26:51 AM EDT

[#13]

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That sucks, and took some people on the ground with him. :( Seeing the plane splash into the pond hits close for me. I lost a friend when he balled up at the end of the runway and cartwheeled into a farmer's pond and drowned in 4 feet of water. :(

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That accident wasn't in KSGF by chance, was it?

Posted: 1/26/2020 12:13:20 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Lots of aerobatic and test pilots(even joe blow pilots) have flown an entire career without incident.

So, no, it's not the reality of aviation.

There's a risk, but it's not a given that you'll die.

View Quote View All Quotes

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Yep.

You fuck around long enough, you'll eat it eventually.

Not trying to be a dick, it's just the reality of aviation.

Lots of aerobatic and test pilots(even joe blow pilots) have flown an entire career without incident.

So, no, it's not the reality of aviation.

There's a risk, but it's not a given that you'll die.

Some get lucky.

Posted: 1/26/2020 12:18:49 PM EDT

[#15]

I guess redbull doesn't give you wings.

Posted: 1/26/2020 1:57:13 PM EDT

[#16]

What's strange about this one is that Steve had just come back from a pre-airshow formation photo shoot with Skip Stewart and a couple other guys. When he returned to the field, he seems to have just been doing an impromptu "beating up the field" (the wide shot of the accident shows several maneuvers he performed before the collision).

Posted: 1/26/2020 2:24:48 PM EDT

[#17]

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Some get lucky.

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It isn't luck. It's skill, practice, and proper risk management.

Posted: 1/26/2020 3:04:58 PM EDT

[#18]

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That accident wasn't in KSGF by chance, was it?

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No, liberty mo in 1998. (Huh, airport is now 0N0. Too lazy to go grab my log book, but I could have sworn it was MO10 or something.)

Posted: 1/26/2020 3:38:43 PM EDT

[#19]

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It isn't luck. It's skill, practice, and proper risk management.

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Quoted:

Quoted:

Some get lucky.

It isn't luck. It's skill, practice, and proper risk management.

And luck.

Posted: 1/26/2020 4:16:49 PM EDT

[#20]

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I guess redbull doesn't give you wings.

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Posted: 1/26/2020 7:24:46 PM EDT

[#21]

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And luck.

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"Luck" is what you make it- it ain't some magical thing.

Skill attained by regular and routine practice and application of training, mindset, practical risk mitigation and simply not doing stupid shit is what makes "luck".

Posted: 1/26/2020 8:03:58 PM EDT

[#22]

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Quoted:
"Luck" is what you make it- it ain't some magical thing.

Skill attained by regular and routine practice and application of training, mindset, practical risk mitigation and simply not doing stupid shit is what makes "luck".

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Quoted:

Quoted:

And luck.

"Luck" is what you make it- it ain't some magical thing.

Skill attained by regular and routine practice and application of training, mindset, practical risk mitigation and simply not doing stupid shit is what makes "luck".

Yep. But you can still do everything right and die. That's luck.

Posted: 1/26/2020 11:19:05 PM EDT

[#23]

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Yep. But you can still do everything right and die. That's luck.

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You know samuse, I have pushed back against some of your GA comments before, but that post is 100% true. And it applies to all of life, not just aviation. You could get killed walking your doggy. I am still getting into my airplane, and I'm still going to walk my dog. I do appreciate your insight, and I respect your experience. You seem to have an honest desire to contribute to the discussion.

Posted: 1/27/2020 12:19:22 AM EDT

[#24]

I hate, HATE, when people blow off crashes to 'pilot error'.

It strikes me as arrogance.

The human factor is by far the biggest hazard we face every day.

That's what makes it dangerous.

NOBODY can perform perfectly forever. At some point, you will make a wrong decision or have an 'oh shit' moment.

Whether or not it results in wadded up plane is all luck.

I've had a few 'oh shit' that were all ME. I can tell you about 'em because I'm lucky.

I try to learn from my own and everyone's mistakes, but there is no way to mitigate all the risk.

Posted: 1/27/2020 12:24:58 AM EDT

[#25]

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I hate, HATE, when people blow off crashes to 'pilot error'.

It strikes me as arrogance.

The human factor is by far the biggest hazard we face every day.

That's what makes it dangerous.

NOBODY can perform perfectly forever. At some point, you will make a wrong decision or have an 'oh shit' moment.

Whether or not it results in wadded up plane is all luck.

I've had a few 'oh shit' that were all ME. I can tell you about 'em because I'm lucky.

I try to learn from my own and everyone's mistakes, but there is no way to mitigate all the risk.

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My "oh shit" moments (really mild) pale in comparison to yours. I have never felt like I was going to die in the airplane, or even wad it up.

Stay safe and keep the rubber side down.

Posted: 1/27/2020 3:27:44 PM EDT

[#26]

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Yep. But you can still do everything right and die. That's luck.

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Perhaps, but by that logic luck is required for you to drive to the grocery store and back without being killed.

Posted: 1/27/2020 8:01:33 PM EDT

[#27]

I probably screw something (or somethings) up every flight, it is what you do after you screw up. That is not luck, you don't have to be perfect to be a pilot (don't let everyone else know this though). Sometimes bad crap happens to the best, like the guy in this thread (not speculating but could have had a stroke at the controls; luck ain't going to help with that). More people live than die, the stats don't lie.

Posted: 1/27/2020 9:37:29 PM EDT

[#28]

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Perhaps, but by that logic luck is required for you to drive to the grocery store and back without being killed.

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Quoted:

Yep. But you can still do everything right and die. That's luck.

Perhaps, but by that logic luck is required for you to drive to the grocery store and back without being killed.

Uh.... It is...

Posted: 1/30/2020 2:10:06 AM EDT

[#29]

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I probably screw something (or somethings) up every flight

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As the saying goes, "the perfect flight hasn't been flown since Orville and Wilbur.

Ergo, something gets screwed up on *every* flight...all that varies is the magnitude and frequency of the error, and if the error is trapped or not.

Posted: 1/31/2020 1:29:48 PM EDT

[#30]

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No, the pilot sits at the rear of the canopy.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5R1ei92f3Kk/hqdefault.jpg

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Exactly: and you can see the pilot’s head in the pic you posted; NOT visible in the one I posted.

Posted: 1/31/2020 2:34:11 PM EDT

[#31]

I'm with Samuse. A lot of us are still here by simple dumb luck. Yes there is a skill element, but often there are things outside of our control. Never trade luck for skill!

Posted: 1/31/2020 3:33:22 PM EDT

[#32]

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Exactly: and you can see the pilot’s head in the pic you posted; NOT visible in the one I posted.

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Then you need to look closer at your picture.

Posted: 1/31/2020 11:02:08 PM EDT

[#33]

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Exactly: and you can see the pilot’s head in the pic you posted; NOT visible in the one I posted.

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Quoted:

Quoted:

No, the pilot sits at the rear of the canopy.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5R1ei92f3Kk/hqdefault.jpg

Exactly: and you can see the pilot’s head in the pic you posted; NOT visible in the one I posted.

Wherever his head was, he was flying the airplane.

Looks like he had it stalled when it was pointed straight down, but he got it back flying and almost out of the sinker before he pancaked it in.

I can't scrub through the video, but that's just what it looks like to me. I've had 'em stalled a bunch coming out of a loop or a hammerhead or anything slow and inverted.