PA-28 crashes on takeoff near Albany NY

[Everskyward]

Of course we make justifications humans are great at this. "It won't happen to me" "It's always the other guy" "I would never do that"

Fact is if we didn't most folks (with the exception of those who have a reason not to fear death) would lay around the house in the fetal position afraid to do anything if we really thought about how fragile our existence on this earth was.

I guess I look at it in another way. Better to do the things you want to do now, because you never know if you will be around tomorrow. But I'm also a procrastinator so that sometimes doesn't work.

Sad accident, in any case.

 

[DesertNomad]

Full grown men?

Sure. I am in my mid 40s and 160lbs. I am a white guy... no Asian at all.

One of the very first things I noticed when I moved back to the US after living overseas for 12 years is how huge Americans are. It was so blatant and obvious and hit me before I even left the airport. I lived in the Czech Republic, Republic of Georgia, UAE, and briefly both Thailand and New Zealand.

I think we can see this in the design of our planes. They were clearly built for 170lbs people and not 240lbs.

 

[jbrinker]

5' 8", 156lb here. My son is 22 and 5' 9" and 160. Looking around the office here, I see quite a few FAA standard people. (And quite a few bigger...)

 

[RyanB]

Sure. I am in my mid 40s and 160lbs. I am a white guy... no Asian at all.

One of the very first things I noticed when I moved back to the US after living overseas for 12 years is how huge Americans are. It was so blatant and obvious and hit me before I even left the airport. I lived in the Czech Republic, Republic of Georgia, UAE, and briefly both Thailand and New Zealand.

I think we can see this in the design of our planes. They were clearly built for 170lbs people and not 240lbs.

Just generally speaking, like you say most men are above average in weight. Im not a big guy myself, well within the FAA standard weights.

 

[FloridaPilot]

Interesting. More than half my (male) friends are under 170. I'm in Nevada so maybe it varies by region.

I was thinking to myself, if I could only adapt my habits to yours I would weigh that as well. For me it's about food choices, which I need to work on.

There is a difference between living and being alive.

EXACTLY!! Some 40 year olds already have one foot in the grave.....by choice of course!

Yea I guess sometimes I wonder if I'd rather die on the couch or die a brutal death like a plane crash...

My thought process is: They both get you to the same destination! Don't get me wrong I have a healthy respect for Death but if there is something I want to do then I will weigh the pros and cons. I always regret the things I DIDN'T DO!

Of course we make justifications humans are great at this. "It won't happen to me" "It's always the other guy" "I would never do that"

Fact is if we didn't most folks (with the exception of those who have a reason not to fear death) would lay around the house in the fetal position afraid to do anything if we really thought about how fragile our existence on this earth was.

I can't agree more! since you are here on this earth, healthy and able bodied go out and just do it! Although watching the news on T.V. makes me want to go into a fetal position.

I guess I look at it in another way. Better to do the things you want to do now, because you never know if you will be around tomorrow. But I'm also a procrastinator so that sometimes doesn't work.

Sad accident, in any case.

Same here! It's either now or never. Do it tomorrow!?! Tomorrow never comes!

Sure. I am in my mid 40s and 160lbs. I am a white guy... no Asian at all.

One of the very first things I noticed when I moved back to the US after living overseas for 12 years is how huge Americans are. It was so blatant and obvious and hit me before I even left the airport. I lived in the Czech Republic, Republic of Georgia, UAE, and briefly both Thailand and New Zealand.

I think we can see this in the design of our planes. They were clearly built for 170lbs people and not 240lbs.

This is the land of excess compared to other parts of the world. No matter how much people complain about the current climate here in the US if they would go to some of the countries out there they would be grateful to be here.

 

[Cajun_Flyer]

EXACTLY!! Some 40 year olds already have one foot in the grave.....by choice of course!

Some of the oldest people I know are technically younger than me. And some of the youngest people I know, such as an 82 year old actively aerobatic pilot named "Olga," could have shared a crib with my grandparents.

All of this can end at any moment, for any reason. I'm only 35 and have already had two brushes with death - once when hit by a drunk driver (got my first helicopter ride! ...although I don't really remember it) and once when I bled out and stopped breathing during what was supposed to be a very minor procedure (helps if the doctor does the CORRECT procedure... ). Saw neither of those things coming. So, I don't screw around with this living thing. Every day could be my last and I live accordingly.

That said, I have two kids I want to stick around for, so I try not to amplify my risk of death too much more than necessary. To me, flying is worth it because I am so incredibly passionate about it and it's been a lifelong dream. But I can respect that not everyone feels that way. We can't choose our genetics and we can't dictate fate - so some things are not in our control, but we can pick and choose the added risks we pile on top of those things. Some people choose smoking or drug use, some choose cliff jumping, some motorcycle racing, some flying and some a whole combination of things. As long as you aren't hurting anyone else in the process, life your life and squeeze out every bit of enjoyment you can.

That's my soapbox

 

[red4golf]

Wow... all this talk about death is depressing and I deal with it every day. Not only am I a combat Soldier, I run the Military Funeral Honors program for my state. I have participated in 4000 funerals as a team leader and now manage the program that I volunteered for 10 years ago. I haven't taken part in a funeral as a team member for nearly 6 years so my funeral count takes on a little different meaning.... Why do I tell you this? simple. I have worked with a gentleman for nearly a decade that fought in WWII,Korea and Vietnam while in the Air force. He served with the Canadians before the US got in to WWII and flew Spitfire and Lancaster bombers before being drafted. By the time he retired in the mid 1970s he had flow every aircraft in the US inventory from something like 1942 until 1973 or so. This man still gave his free time to helping serve young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that needed assistance returning from combat as well as participating 2 times a month in the volunteer Honor Guard at the National Cemetery. He also flew when he could and loved to talk aviation with anyone that would listen. He was and still lives for every second. In contrast, I have 2 Soldiers that currently work for me that appear to have already died, their bodies just don't know it yet. I want to be like the old timer and my family has shown me that it is likely that I will be more like him. If I can't be living and not simply existing, I don't know if I would want to.

Hell, I'm 41 and my wife is 32 but I sometimes think I need to start looking for a good funeral director for her too......
,

 

[Shepherd]

Fly 'til you die!

 

[Fearless Tower]

Fly 'til you die!

Kinda goes with the whole tailwheel mantra of fly it 'til its in the chocks.

 

[Jay Honeck]

Just a data point, in defense of Piper Cherokees: In our PA-28-235, I could fly with four 200 pound passengers, 150 pounds of luggage, and 84 gallons of gas.

Not all PA-28s are load limited.