Roush Wreck

[N4843W]

A lot of you probably saw the video or pix of Jack exiting his jet after pancaking it as OSH, bleeding pretty badly.

Jack's a neighbor here in Northville ... well ... maybe a mile from me. I was landing at night on 23L and he was landing 23R in his Gentleman Jack P-51 about 3 years ago at our home base of KYIP. Pretty good xwind and he passed me short final, touched down and damn near ground-looped the Mustang -- all over the runway. Tower called, "You alright Jack?" He had stopped the bird and the tower again called, "Jack?" Finally he answered and said everything was OK and he was taxi-ing in.

Jumping to conclusions, but at his age should should he be landing P-51's at night and single-pilot flying biz jets? Just a thought. Glad he is OK though. He has a huge business here and everyone who knows him says he's a class guy.

 

[CFCS]

Re: Roush Wreck

So now you're picking on old pilots? Its all about currency when it comes to P-51s.

Besides you cant talk about him if he doesn't own a Commander I bet he could afford a pilot, I bet the feds help him make that decision pretty quickly.

 

[bradmc]

Re: Roush Wreck

I bet he could afford a pilot, I bet the feds help him make that decision pretty quickly.

Or, the insurance company will!

 

[nruzic]

Re: Roush Wreck

Jack Rousch is a very experienced pilot he flies the Premier 300+ hrs per year travelling to the races where his teams are competing. So its not that he needs the skill but perhaps made a wrong snap decision.

 

[kgrant]

Re: Roush Wreck

Avweb had ths exchange w/ ATC posted that day. Sounds like Jack questioned the spacing but "went along".... (my take)

Audio posted to LiveATC.net may include the exchange
between OSH controllers and Roush. If accurate, the jet is
misidentified in the exchange as "six sierra" and accurately as
"premier." This audio is not "real time"; we've edited out the blank
space on the recording. Click here to listen.
(http://www.avweb.com/other/oshcrash.mp3)

k

 

[can114]

Re: Roush Wreck

If you've never almost ground looped a taildragger you haven't flown it enough.
I don't think age should even come into the discussion- I've seen some pretty bad 35yr old exec's flying singles. I'm sure his insurance demands fairly strict recurrency for the Premier.
Point is it can happen to ANYBODY. If he wasn't so well known it would probably not even have made the news.
How many on this forum have had accidents/ incidents or near misses?? or are we all just perfect pilots?

 

[N4843W]

Re: Roush Wreck

Relax. No one is picking on old pilots. It is a fact that as we age (I am nearly 58) our skills decline. That's life. The good ones make up for that with experience. I hope I can, but I won't assume so just because I have x number of hours. A P-51 is a major handful of a plane to land, as I have heard from many former pilots, including my Dad and step-Dad. A Premier is a plane that most would say would be better flown with two pilots. I have a friendwho flies one. You just try to reduce risk wherever possible. No one claimed to perfect and I would be wholly unqualified to file either aircraft. Jack is a beloved guy in our town. I merely suggest he should challenge himself and perhaps reduce his risk. He can easilly afford a copilot.

 

[JBunn]

Re: Roush Wreck

I saw your shirt at Oshkosh Scott. It read...

" THE OLDER I GET..... THE BETTER I USED TO FLY"

 

[nruzic]

Re: Roush Wreck

The Premier is a single pilot certified airplane - flying it is lower workload than flying a twin like a Baron because the 2 engines are single lever power - no mixture & prop levers. The Power to Wt ratio is so much better than a Baron or other twin there's a lot of performance for engine out climb. In addition the adverse yaw is negligible so why is it a 2 pilot airplane compared to the Baron?
The turbine engine is far more reliable & less workload than a typical piston engine. Its the speed & inertia where the turbine pilot has to be sharp, the pilot must think for 125 knot approach versus a 100 knot approach.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Roush Wreck

Sid ... I read your post ... so I called my friend who flies them. For a while he was flying a 421 Golden Eagle, switching back and forth on any give day. You know what he said? He said you are right. The Premier was FAR (his emphasis) easier to fly than the 421. So you are right. (savor it.)

Well, he is interviewing with Kalita now to fy 747-400's. (17 days on, 13 days off, per month. interesting schedule.) Let's see if he says THAT's easier than a Premier.

But I'll make you a bet. If Jack wants to fly the new one his insurance company buys for him, he'll have to have a copilot!

 

[nruzic]

Re: Roush Wreck

Sid ... I read your post ... so I called my friend who flies them. For a while he was flying a 421 Golden Eagle, switching back and forth on any give day. You know what he said? He said you are right. The Premier was FAR (his emphasis) easier to fly than the 421. So you are right. (savor it.)

Yes thanks - I am on such matters as Instrument Panel color!

Well, he is interviewing with Kalita now to fy 747-400's. (17 days on, 13 days off, per month. interesting schedule.) Let's see if he says THAT's easier than a Premier.

Flying Priemier is a lot easier than a Part 25 airplane because they're far more complex in systems - especially a heavy like a 747!

 

[JBunn]

Re: Roush Wreck

Seems like Jack is no worse for the wear. Saw him at the Michigan race this weekend.

 

[N4843W]

Re: Roush Wreck

Saw that, Jim. Pretty remarkable. Were you there?????

 

[JBunn]

Re: Roush Wreck

No. I saw him on TV as I was flippin through the channels looking for the PGA Tour being televised from Wisconsin. I can't say I watch a lot of NASCAR. I leave that to Lonnie....

 

[wab003]

Re: Roush Wreck

Don't know if everyone was able to see these. The definitive, "oh,crap!" moment. More to follow.

 

[wab003]

Re: Roush Wreck

Think the guy in the Cessna had to head for his tent to get some clean shorts?

 

[wab003]

Re: Roush Wreck

and more

 

[wab003]

Re: Roush Wreck

and more... ouch!

 

[wab003]

Re: Roush Wreck

the end... ugh!

 

[Commander7GT]

Re: Roush Wreck

I'd say it's a good day when the crap hits the fan and all you have to do is clean your shorts!