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Stolen plane believed to have crashed into Gulf
GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Authorities searched all day today for a stolen plane that is believed to have crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. The Piper PA-28 Cherokee took off from Jack Edwards Airport at 7:05 a.m. today, and the pilot had not been authorized to fly the plane (blog.al.com) Mais...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
It is what it is Mike.......he had a plan for whatever reason....Sad......
many thanks PJ, very helpful. It makes sense that Schrenker's intention was for N428DC to disappear in the Gulf waters. Absent any remains, there would be no evidence that he was not onboard, and it could be assumed he persished in the disappearance. Radar track indicates, it nearly made it.
For the Cherokee out of Jack Edwards Airport, the disappearance into the Gulf waters appears to have succeeded.
So sad that desparation leads to tragedy with such attempts at illegal or fraudulent actions.
For the Cherokee out of Jack Edwards Airport, the disappearance into the Gulf waters appears to have succeeded.
So sad that desparation leads to tragedy with such attempts at illegal or fraudulent actions.
Fenelon......I believe he landed the plane in the water.......then boarded a boat.
Good point Mike.......I believe he set the autopilot on altitude hold....or maybe he thought he did....had the airspeed slowed so he could exit the aircraft thru the door @ the left rear so as to not hit the tail on the way out. When the CG shifted full forward....the autopilot disengaged and started its a slow airspeed descent.....the aircraft was not out fuel when it struck terra firma. His intention was to have the plane make it to the gulf....it almost did. The plane was fairly intact......it could have been a somewhat survivable accident. Bad planning on his part.
Do you think that Schrenker in N428DC, a PA-43, was able to close his exit door or would have the open door have added to the drag, thence reducing range?
hi PJ
how did that Piper Meridian pilot over the FL panhandle trim the aircraft for level flight, from the rear of the aircraft?
did he trim the aircraft for level flight from the left seat, and then move to the back of the aircraft, which would have moved the cg aft and put the aircraft in a climb?
after he departed the aircraft's rear door, the theory that the cg moved forward and put the aircraft in a descent, wouldn't the descent have increased the airspeed?
when the airspeed increases, what happens to the nose of the aircraft? doesn't it pitch up, not down?
How does the CG shift theory correspond to the actual cause of the aircraft's fate: fuel. "The plane crashed four hours later in the Florida panhandle, apparently after running out of fuel."
Rather than a forward CG bringing the aircraft down, doesn't it appear it remained level at 3,800 msl for over 200 miles without pilot and only missed the assumed objective of disappearing in the Gulf waters, due to inadequate fuel?
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N428DC
- Aerodynamics 201
how did that Piper Meridian pilot over the FL panhandle trim the aircraft for level flight, from the rear of the aircraft?
did he trim the aircraft for level flight from the left seat, and then move to the back of the aircraft, which would have moved the cg aft and put the aircraft in a climb?
after he departed the aircraft's rear door, the theory that the cg moved forward and put the aircraft in a descent, wouldn't the descent have increased the airspeed?
when the airspeed increases, what happens to the nose of the aircraft? doesn't it pitch up, not down?
How does the CG shift theory correspond to the actual cause of the aircraft's fate: fuel. "The plane crashed four hours later in the Florida panhandle, apparently after running out of fuel."
Rather than a forward CG bringing the aircraft down, doesn't it appear it remained level at 3,800 msl for over 200 miles without pilot and only missed the assumed objective of disappearing in the Gulf waters, due to inadequate fuel?
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N428DC
- Aerodynamics 201