I hit a tree Saturday . . . . . | FerrariChat
Buy

I hit a tree Saturday . . . . .

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by imported_Rudy, Apr 2, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. imported_Rudy

    imported_Rudy Rookie

    Nov 18, 2006
    41
    #1 imported_Rudy, Apr 2, 2007
    At my airport we only have one 40 foot wide runway 16/34. The taxiway only runs from mid field to the 34 end. Due to the normal winds 34 is the runway to used most of the time. As a student when we get a chance to use 16 we jump on it. It just requires a back taxi down the run way and a u-turn. I always take notice of the trees on the east side of the runway and respect that they are close I just did not understand how close they are to the runway.

    Another thing about the 16 end of the runway is about 3 feet after the pavement there is about a 30 foot drop off. So here I am back taxing down the runway and I start to drift over to the right so I have room to make my 180 turn while keep an eye on the impending drop off. I’m still a good 4 or 5 feet from the side/edge of the runway but notice movement out of the corner of my eye, I look over and see a tree bouncing back and forth. At which point my instructor states, “yep you hit it, don’t worry you just caught a branch and there is no damage”

    I may have to look in to cutting down some trees. If a 172 can hit the trees on the side of a 40 feet runway while still having all 3 tires on that runway they may be too close.

    Rudy
     
  2. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    63,960
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    #2 rob lay, Apr 2, 2007
    Interesting.

    Our last landing after lesson Saturday we landed 35, which usually we use 17. 35 comes over trees and they didn't seem too far down. We also had to back taxi and instructor went to right for 180 right tire just barely got off payment, which we just had 3-4 inches of rain Friday night. Tire got a little stuck, but he got it out.

    Any tricks for judging wing clearance when taxiing? Seems like this is common concern with narrow hanger allies and oncoming traffic. In my limited experience so far, I've already seen some close clearances with pros in control. Not sure if they were comfortable with the margin or not. Also saw the FBO hand towing a plane out of hanger and one wing that he wasn't watching only missed door by less than a foot.
     
  3. Skyraider

    Skyraider Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2005
    620
    #3 Skyraider, Apr 2, 2007
    Yep! ..........hire a guy/girl to run alongside...;)
    .................Tie a running chain saw to the wing tip... (no worries!) :) :) :)

    Hmmm sounds like he needs more practice hand towing...
    I'm sure he could learn to miss it by justy an inch... ;) :):):)
     
  4. planeflyr

    planeflyr Karting

    May 27, 2006
    174
    #4 planeflyr, Apr 3, 2007
    Yes, it is best to get out of the airplane and tow by hand - S-L-O-W-L-Y when in tight quarters.

    A friend of mine just had someone taxi their wing into a hangar recently causing a lot of damage. To the wing, not the hangar. :)

    FBO ramp personnel are not immune either. Some years ago the FBO was towing my airplane and happened to find the only other aircraft within 80 feet to make contact with. I was NOT a happy fellow that day!

    Y'all be careful out there.

    Planeflyer
     
  5. SWITCHESOFF

    SWITCHESOFF Formula Junior

    Nov 9, 2005
    582
    #5 SWITCHESOFF, Apr 3, 2007
    Airplanes aren't cars when they have some 15 or 16 feet of wing on each side and you just have to learn to stay wide and "When in doubt, GET OUT." I don't know of any tricks other than remembering that those wings are WAAAY out there and taxi accordingly. All the experienced bomber pilots and crew members during WW2 HAD to have a wing walker to tell you what the clearance was when you were in a tight spot.....but then you were messing with an airplane with 110 foot wingspan in the case of a B-24. Still, there were many accidents.
     
  6. SWITCHESOFF

    SWITCHESOFF Formula Junior

    Nov 9, 2005
    582
    #6 SWITCHESOFF, Apr 3, 2007
    I always crack up ( Laughing) at George Goble's description of his accident while he was taxiing a B-24 and ran into the airplane ahead of him. He went before a courts martial to defend himself and explain how he managed to damage two airplanes.
    He said, " There I was, just sitting there minding my own business when this fool ahead of me BACKS UP!."
    Switches
     
  7. bwassam

    bwassam Formula Junior

    Jan 3, 2005
    635
    North Bend, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Robert Wassam
    #7 bwassam, Apr 7, 2007
    This is a funny thread.

    One thing you can do is to look at the shadows on the ground. If both items have a shadow that you can see, and your shadow is going to miss, then chances are the airplane will miss too.


    One of the first things I did after I got a hangar was to measure half the wing span and add 5 feet and made some marks away from my hangar so that I had a never cross line when I was lining up to put the airplane away. After a few trips down the hangar row I got use to how much room I had out there.

    Oh yeah, here's another tip on taxing. Go slow. Go so slow when you're near things that hurt that if you touch, you'll do minimum damage. I'm guessing that you guys already know this though.

    Bob Wassam
     

Share This Page