The pilot of a Citabria survived its crash and entanglement with high tension power lines but later died when he fell 150 feet from the suspended aircraft. The mishap occurred Sunday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. local time near Batesville, Arkansas. Not many details were released by local authorities but White River Now reported the pilot was unhurt in the original accident. He apparently stayed with the aircraft for several hours before falling. He died later from his injuries.
How horrific. I followed this accident when it had just happened and saw photos of the pilot still in the airplane. Imagine his last hours, looking out of a destroyed windshield, hanging from his seatbelt, waiting for rescue. Spending the last hours of your life in terror.
This one is really horrible. I’m picturing being there, and thinking - do I stay here and freeze, or try to get out and walk to safety while it’s still light enough to do it. After a few hours, I picture myself doing exactly what this pilot did. I feel so badly for this pilot.
We all should have rope for tiedown and part of emergency kit. Not sure if it would have helped this poor guy though. That’s a lot of rope and the plane may have fallen on him.
I’m not sure a rope would’ve helped here. First off, 150’ is a lot of extra rope to carry. Climbing down skinny rope is not easy - I doubt many of us are in as good a shape as we think.
Second, dropping a rope to the ground would’ve completed the circuit from the high-tension lines. In a situation like this first responders have to wait until the power lines are turned off before rescuing the occupants. Much like that Mooney that hit power lines two years ago: Mooney Well Below Approach Before Hitting Tower - AVweb
There is a flag feature which will eventually get the attention of our fearless leader. Sad, that one has to use it, in such highly developed times, among adults.