Jesse-
You wrote, " *WE* the pilots are sitting here buying the media's story with NO EVIDENCE and attacking one of our own."
I did not jump to any conclusion about the motivations of this pilot. I merely suggested that "Even if he did crash intentionally...." Maybe there are others who have more information about this, who were not quoted, not interviewed, or whose information was only partly used in suggesting the intent of his actions. It is the reporters right to use the information available in the way he/she wishes... It's called "SPIN". What I read here was many people stating curiousities and suppositions about what might have happened, as well as expressions of sorrow that it did happen, for what ever reason. So please do not take liberties of claiming to speak for anyone other than yourself.
You wrote, "I'm sorry but as a whole GA has a pretty crappy safety record in my opinion. You are more likely to be killed as an active GA pilot for a life time (I'm not talking Part 121 or Part 135) than you are as a licensed car driver your whole life."
I respect your right to your opinion, but I think you are being a bit myopic in your interpretation of what I wrote. I was referring to a more general view of GA, and if you do read a Nall Report, as compared to any DOT fatality study, you will find the chances of being involved in, and dying in a car crash FAR, FAR exceed those of dying in a plane crash.
You think that citing two examples as being " too damned often"... is accurately stating the issue. I think you are overstating it.
I will not disagree that any crash is a tragedy. But again, I refer you to the most recent Nall Report. With years of data collected, General Aviation has been showing a trend toward fewer accidents and fewer fatalities. The reason given is improved education and training. Can it improve on this safety record even further? Of course it can. And the current training and awareness programs ARE showing positive results.
You are dealing in the anecdotal, not the statistical. If you want to provide a convincing argument, you had better back it up with statistics, something more than just your own personal beliefs or feelings. Those are worth nothing to others, in issues like this. Without any statistical evidence, your argument holds no significant weight.
You also wrote, "They get press coverage because people think airplane crashes are interesting. Airplane crashes sell. Take zero evidence and say that the airplane crash was intentional and he killed his daughter intentionally. That is what sells."
I specifically identified why I thought the press seems to cover these incidents. (I wrote,"On the other hand, airplane crashes seem to get an inordinate amount of air time/ press. Why? Because they seem to strike a morbid curiousity with the non-flying public. They are fascinated, intrigued, and scared all at the same time! And since 9/11, that fascination and fear has risen to all time highs." I think you and I are in agreement there, so what was your point in bringing this up?
You wrote, "I'm constantly bickering about the average pilot's inability to handle their airplane. It's reality. Stand out at a busy GA airport with a cross wind and watch airplanes land."
Are you not willing to let others learn the skills which you obviously enjoy? Are you so far above the "average" that you can not make a mistake, or a poor decision? How you answer these questions says much more about you as a pilot than all the plane handling skills of a Bob Hoover! So do not cast aspersions upon others abilities until you are beyond reproach yourself. At some point in your training, you were no better than those you now look upon with such disdain.
Perhaps that pilot who botched a x-wind landing you happened to see, will one day be flying a B777, an F-35, or maybe even the Shuttle (not likely, they are being phased out...), with skills beyond what you and I will ever possess! So do not be so quick to call out those you perceive to be inferior pilots. For like in any endeavor, there will always be those with lesser and greater skills than yourself.
