Red Bull air race close call

I don't know much about those kind of pilots let alone that particular one, but I'd say he's lucky as it could have been much worse. When you're pushing performance to the limits, you're bound to have something bad happen no matter how good you are. Heck, MotoGP champion (multiple times over) and maybe best modern rider, Valentino Rossi, crashed in practice and broke his leg yesterday (bone penetrated skin). Stuff happens...glad it turned out okay for this pilot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsizLwehunk

 

Bet that was one messy cockpit...

 

Mark- First time I have seen someone survive a water impact. Very close to dying.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Luck and skill kept him alive there....Good to see he's ok

 

It looks like part of his landing gear broke off as he contacted the water but then it all looks intact as he's pulling up. Interesting.

 

I had a horoscope once that said " You tend to rely on luck, because you lack real talent...." These guys have more flying talent than I'd ever dream of having, but sometimes you get out of a tight spot with pure and simple dumb luck...

Looks like these guys are really pushing the edge of accelerated stalls at low altitiude. This is the second incident where one of these guys stalled it and hit the water. In the first one a few weeks ago the airplane splashed but the guy pretty much walked away. In this case the pilot was even luckier, but you gotta figure that that is what it was all about...

Looks like a good way to get hurt.

 

Wheel Pant sheared off on impact, but the gear itself was fine. Matt Hall is one very, very lucky pilot to still be here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CB27K-wIsM&feature=related