SwiftVets.com

[NortonPete]

This fellow seemed to be a standup guy. I'm sad for his family.

As a pilot I spend too much time trying to figure out what went wrong.

My guess based on my 20 years of Private Pilot experiance ( instrument rating ) follows:

The Plane:
Cirrus sr-20 156 knots at 75% power ( cruise )
The location:
East River mid town .. legal air space at 1000 ft by .30 nm wide ( its a deadend just before La Guardia airspace )

If you don't slow down you need to bank a 180 turn at about 60 degrees
and start it right at the eastern side of the river. ( double your speed 4X the turn radius )

A bank angle like that needs some rudder, power and a careful watch on the
altimeter. Otherwise you could easily lose 3-4 hundred feet.

Thats where the building was on 72nd street.

I used to fly the Hudson river corridor and circle the "Lady" but it became
too crazy with all the helos.

I realize he probably was trying to show his instructor Yankee stadium, but just like flying into a "box" canyon you need to plan your exit.

A real shame. Aviation can be unforgiving.

[Me#1You#10]

Excellent analysis...sounds like it's right on the money. He should have simply co-ordinated with LGA tower for a bit more airspace to maneuver in. I wonder just how much NYC experience his instructor had.

[NortonPete]

[quote="NortonPete"]This fellow seemed to be a standup guy. I'm sad for his family.

Updated with new info

The Plane:
Cirrus sr-20 156 knots at 75% power ( cruise )
NTSB says turn started at 112mph(?) .25 miles north of building
The location:
East River mid town .. legal air space at 1000 ft by .30 nm wide ( its a deadend just before La Guardia airspace )

If you don't slow down you need to bank a 180 turn at about 60 degrees
and start it right at the eastern side of the river. ( double your speed 4X the turn radius )
the bank angle needed is closer to 45 degrees still steep for a beginner

A bank angle like that needs some rudder, power and a careful watch on the
altimeter. Otherwise you could easily lose 3-4 hundred feet.
Turn started at 700 in the middle plane was at 500 feet

Thats where the building was on 72nd street.

/quote]