High elevation + high temps (assuming) + full rich mixture (saw in video) = Poor engine performance, poor lift, and probable crash. From reports I’ve seen, the density altitude (pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature) was around 9000 ft! I pilot in mountainous terrain should be very aware of this. It doesn’t just affect high elevation, it’s just worse there. Even here in Iowa we can get some pretty high density altitude readings. Remember the plane will act like it’s at that altitude even though it isn’t. For instance, DSM airport elev. is 958ft MSL. Right now it is 24 (73F) degrees Celsius and the dew point is 12 C. The barometric pressure is 29.99″ Hg. The density altitude is 2,326 feet MSL. The plane on the ground at DSM will perform as it would is Spokane, WA (at ISA standards). After some searching I found that the Stinson generally had a service ceiling of 15,000 ft (I don’t know for sure which model the Vietnam Veteran pilot had in this video). If that was the case, he should have been able to lean the mixture to get more performance. It’ll be interesting to see the results of the investigation.
Nobody in the plane seemed concerned until they started hitting tree tops.
I noticed that too. Kind of strange they weren’t concerned that they weren’t climbing and it took way too long to get off the ground.
I was at the Quad City Airshow this past weekend and saw that plane go down. Sad deal, but at least it wasn’t worse than it was. Could have easily been into the crowd or into a building full of people.
High elevation + high temps (assuming) + full rich mixture (saw in video) = Poor engine performance, poor lift, and probable crash. From reports I’ve seen, the density altitude (pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature) was around 9000 ft! I pilot in mountainous terrain should be very aware of this. It doesn’t just affect high elevation, it’s just worse there. Even here in Iowa we can get some pretty high density altitude readings. Remember the plane will act like it’s at that altitude even though it isn’t. For instance, DSM airport elev. is 958ft MSL. Right now it is 24 (73F) degrees Celsius and the dew point is 12 C. The barometric pressure is 29.99″ Hg. The density altitude is 2,326 feet MSL. The plane on the ground at DSM will perform as it would is Spokane, WA (at ISA standards). After some searching I found that the Stinson generally had a service ceiling of 15,000 ft (I don’t know for sure which model the Vietnam Veteran pilot had in this video). If that was the case, he should have been able to lean the mixture to get more performance. It’ll be interesting to see the results of the investigation.
Nobody in the plane seemed concerned until they started hitting tree tops.
I noticed that too. Kind of strange they weren’t concerned that they weren’t climbing and it took way too long to get off the ground.
I was at the Quad City Airshow this past weekend and saw that plane go down. Sad deal, but at least it wasn’t worse than it was. Could have easily been into the crowd or into a building full of people.