Too Close For Comfort
I was standing on my deck overlooking the mountains when a small plane, a Piper-Cherokee, came in over the tree tops not 100 feet away from my house. It was apparent that they were attempting to make an emergency landing. If they had been able to travel another 300 feet they might have made it to the Mary Jane Falls trail parking area, but the left wing hit an electrical pole and that pulled the plane left and down into the ground and it exploded instantly. Fuel went into the air and started fires over a hundred feet from the crash site. By the time a fire truck was on the scene many more were needed and it got out of control quickly. Metro police didn't arrive until much later, and there was chaos everywhere with tourists running through the woods right next to the fire. The plane was completely charred and almost unrecognizable. The heat from the fire was oppressive and I could feel the intensity over 300 feet away. I watched as 90ft. pine trees went up as if they were doused in gasoline.
For The Rest of the Article including pictures of the fire go to:
http://vegasvig.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/too-close-for-comfort/
__________________________
Nick Oliva
Author, "Only Moments"
www.onlymomentsbook.com
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Submitted by Nick Oliva on Sun, 06/29/2008 - 00:26.
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Yikes, not good, not good at all
The destruction and the loss of life would be so difficult more me to contend with. I hope you're holding up okay.
TF
Definitely Too Close
That was definitely too close, but glad to hear your home was spared. I've seen one crash and it was bad. I read the full post on your blog and you make some great points (like usual
. There are certain areas that people should not fly over and it sounds like this is one of those. Imagine if flying was limited to areas where people could safely be rescued - except over the ocean of course. You also make a good point about environmentalists. I hear about some things that they agonize over and other things that no one cares about - I've never seen a real logic to which causes merit the additional support. Again, glad to hear you and your home are safe.
Nikki Leigh
__________________________Nikki Leigh - www.nikkileigh.com
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Thank You Both
for your concern. We were allowed back late this afternoon. I had the pleasure of being able to speak my mind to the BLM and National Forest persons and I must say they live in another "never, neverland" world where plants, animals, and fish are worth more than humans. They just don't get it, but for now we are safe. My point of a No Fly Zone was for recreational craft within 3,000 feet of altitude from the peaks. We have military and commercial craft now but at high altitudes, but in this "boxed" canyon it is extemely dangerous for site seers and low flying craft.
__________________________I hope I never see it happen again. The scorched bodies were a visual that will stay etched in my mind for some time.
Nick Oliva
Author, "Only Moments"
www.onlymomentsbook.com