Kind of hard to watch for a few reasons... heart goes out to the pilot and passenger... As for the Air Safety Institute I miss Richard McSpadden but am glad these analysis' are continuing...
@@lebojay It just doesn't scan for me that Richard would attempt the impossible turn (or advise it as pilot not flying) but the ADS-B data seems to suggest it. I don't and won't know for sure. I do think that it's proof that none of us are immune to disaster and being intimately involved with aviation safety doesn't mean you won't be in an aviation incident. Rest in peace to both Richard and the pilot. Continuing this series was only right.
The victims were pilot Michael Busher, 73; flight instructor Jacqueline Whitford, 79; and Fairview resident Barbara MacDonald, 75. The plane crashed into a row of eight townhomes in Fairview, destroying three of them.
Michael C. Busher, in September 1990 he pleads guilty to Money Laundering before U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein in Seattle as he tried to pass $16 million in bogus U.S. Treasury checks to Seafirst Bank in Vancouver, Wash.
Thanks for the analysis. Post maintenance flights and flights after an aircraft has not been flown for months can be very risky. I hope that everyone did what they could to avoid this crash since this sadly took three lives, including one completely uninvolved person on the ground. A tragic reminder for all of us to take care and do careful preflights.
Agreed. My practice when returning an A/C to service that had not been flown for months, (6 months+) is too conduct two(2) "flights". The first is a taxi to the runup, perform all the taxi amd run up procedures, and once complete will preform several high rpm static runs for about 5 minutes each watching the temperature and other vitals. Cool down and perform again. If necessary I'll ask for a high speed run on the runway. I'll do this for about an hour. Once complete ill taxi the place back to the hanger, park the plane for at least a day, and check things over. Next "flight" will be a normal takeoff procedural flight but either a climbing traffic pattern to cruise altitude if possible but either way I'll stay in the pattern just flying circuits until I comfortable to depart the pattern but try to have altitude for gliding back to the airport if needed. If everything checks out, the third flight is normal ops.
@@aarondoty2210 Your process seems like a good way to do it. I just finished the 50 hour inspection on my aircraft, and will perform the post-maintenance flight tomorrow morning when I'm fresh and cool. The maintenance facility at our airport does something similar to what you describe, and while it's annoying since they do the engine runs near my hangar, I fully agree with what they are doing.
@@aarondoty2210 Exactly. That was one of my first thoughts, when I heard 'test flight' and 'handling issues' in the coms: 'What ever happened to performing high-speed taxi tests following flight-control maintenance?' Of course we don't know what maintenance had been recently performed, etc. The NTSB will be able to find all that out soon enough.
@@ImpactWench I would just like to know were any of you there are any of you pilots or any of you airplane mechanics? Are you with the NTSB you know you can keep guessing and assuming and supposing and everything you want the truth will come out if the pilot said he was having issues with controlling the plane there was a mechanical problem I would guess and yes Jackie Whitford was my sister and I lost her to a tragic tragic accident. She’s very much missed in this family.
The pilot is unsure of what he wants to do - from beginning to end. That and the control issue make this a nightmare scenario. Better to talk yourself out of something than to talk yourself into something.
If you listen, he was distracted handling a plane that was not responding to his inputs. Aviate, navigate, then communicate, right? The final transmission was from Jackie, a flight instructor who took over the communicating... They had their hands full.. From this viewpoint, the early communication now fits an individual whose calm demeanor does not reflect apathy.. but someone who is endeavoring to maintain control of a rapidly deteriorating situation...
My thought on the passenger on the plane, since it was a maintenance flight, she could have been a represtantive for the facility or the actual technician, My shop I used to work for would either have a lead technician or the DM go on the test flight.
@@igclapp something is not right with this entire picture. There was a 'air worthiness directive' applicable to the Cessna twins regarding the carry through spar that if failed would result in a loss of control. If it had failed, and was not caught in maintenance.. this would need to be addressed.. Jackie was a personal friend and her loss? It hits me as unnecessary..
73 years old pilot just recovering from a heart attack, the ATC should have been more gentle with him to not get his blood pressure up. The pilot was overwhelmed and the lady in the plane had to take over the radio to allow him to calm down.
First flight after maintenance is not for a pilot who is clearly not familiar with the aircraft. This seems like a combined test flight/orientation flight with an experienced instructor and a pilot who was clearly in over his head from the second he stepped into the cockpit.
I live on the very end of the gorge. Air traffic from the Troutdale airport often fly right over my house. I was mowing the lawn and had I looked up I would have seen the plane. His flt plan according to this video was right over my house. I did hear a loud boom and then a huge black cloud of smoke. My son is a ground/flight instructor at Troutdale. Profitable employment but can be very dangerous. Id rather see him driving school buses.
My sister was the passenger in that plane she’s been flying over 30 years had over 10,000 hours in the air and was a certified flight instructor out of Arizona. She sounded unsure to me when she said they’d try. That’s not like her. She must’ve known something terrible was gonna happen. She has her forever wings now
One of my recurrent instructors for my C414A was the only surviving pilot of that elevator trim issue before the AD. Only survived due to a full airplane and using the passengers to move the CG. Chilling and scary story.
In the accident video, as the aircraft's left wing contacts electrical wires, I can see what appears to be the left cowling, on the left engine, open. If this is the case, you might expect control issues, such as a left yaw, and loss of lift on the left wing.
Michael C Busher, who someone below identified, was the 73 year old pilot and the passenger was JackieWhitford, 79 and a CFI. Busher was as of 3/16/2020, the new CEO of a local company NXSystems, involved in e-Banking. Sounds like a sharp guy, but know nothing of his flying experience or qualifications. Doesn't change the tragedy, only makes it worse.
@@phillipzx3754 Try Michael C. Busher. He's a somewhat prominent local businessman. If he wasn't PIC, or even licensed, then Whitford was as a CFI. Was she current? I'm sure the prelim report will tell us what's what.
@@larryweitzman5163 There is no Michael C. Busher or Michael Busher listed in the airman database. If you can find him, I'd appreciate an update. And no.. she was not current which is why she's not listed as a CFI. The term "CFI" shouldn't have even been brought up as a credential. In the end, like Jessica Dubroff, she was nothing more than a passenger on a test flight.
@@phillipzx3754 Interestingly, I too thought of the Jessica Dubroff crash. Dubroff wasn't even flying the Cardinal when that accident occurred on take-off in poor weather conditions. Gottagethereitis, a schedule to meet for her publicity stunt. I published about that crash (6/12/96, Mountain Democrat) and spent time on the radio discussing the stupidity of it all. Having a hand on the yoke is not flying the airplane.
Just remember at the end of the day ATC walks home regardless of how your flight ends. Do what you need to get home safely. Idk if altitude would've helped this doomed flight. I do know that I rather be copying a number to call after landing safely rather than hitting power lines trying to conform to a Class C restriction.
Same. I was wondering if being at altitude would have given them some troubleshooting time. No blame, the thought just hit me. Maybe they should have said upfront this is a test flight and intentions to test at altitude or i to a designated training area
The altitude discussion occurred before the pilot reported handling problems. After that the controller was quite helpful. With 20/20 hindsight I do think the handling problems started earlier in the flight.
Just read a comment on abc news channel where an employee of the pilot said it was his boss and his instructor on board and it was the first flight after repairs.
According to the FAA airman database, Jacqueline Kay Whitford was NOT a CFI (but she was a commercial pilot) nor was Michael Busher listed as a registered pilot. Anyone have an answer for this mystery?
I tried to recreate this crash in Microsoft Flight Simulator with a twin prop at the Troutdale airport. It's as if the trim settings were set the way they were 6 months prior, for landing. When you do this, the trim will be too much downward trim, and if you set it for a 10mph cross wind, the rudder trim will be off to one side. It makes the entire fligth awkward. You may be able to climb if the plane is strait, but if you turn left or right you are going down without the ability to pull up to maintain altitude. If the trim settings were never set back to neutral after the landing 6 months ago, and you take off with an additional cross wind from some other direction, the complexity in knowing how to properly make the trim setting corrections can only be accomplished by a master pilot with 5,000 feet altitude (enough time) to get it figured out. Arguing tone with the pilot: "Are you going to do the pattern or not?" and "drop altitude now" these demands with a plane out of control, and in need of more altitude to give the pilot more time to figure things out added up to the disaster. Also, they should make it a policy to only fly east over the Columbia River, gaining altitude up to 5,000 feet to insure they have enough time to compensate for trim calibration errors. Just because the trim is set to zero doesn't mean its not with a 3-degree left rudder, and/or 5 degrees down aileron. Also, the trim has a friction control that if not set properly, the trim settings will slip. You can set the "upness" for take off, gain altitude, and if it slipped durring the climb, and you change your flaps from 20 degrees back to zero flaps, you will descend, and if the trim has slipped and you don't know it has slipped, and don't have enough altitude to figure it out, and the control tower is making demands upon you to drop altitude, you're not going to make it. Oh, did I mention you've got 15 seconds to figure out the problem, make the adjustments, and rise to a safe altitude?
Just a guess, but it sounds like another runaway electric trim accident. He likely trimmed down, and it ran away. Pilot unfamiliar with how to disable it.
Heartbreaking. To hear "handling problems," worries me. I think y'all are right to note the directive on the elevator trim tap. The only thing that comes to mind that could have aided in that scenario would have been to lower flaps, maybe. The male pilot seems to have focused on flying the plane first, with the female pilot troubleshooting and hopping on the radio.
That’s one flight that should never have left the ground on that day with that pilot; not only was it a post maintenance flight, witch is a bit iffy, his thoughts were not coherent
All I can say is that this pilot seemed borderline overwhelmed before he even took off. It is too bad no information has been released on who the pilot was. Is this a coverup?
Not sure what made you immediately jump to coverup, but try to be patient - information comes slowly sometimes. There has been plenty of information received at this point, including names, ages, and roles of all occupants onboard the aircraft, as well as the name of the person killed on the ground.
This has signs of runaway trim or backwards rigging possibly. AP servo motor issue possibly... I have to assume controls were free, clear and correct on the run up
Mike, there are three terms for transmissions such as in the video, the communication is either, "broken," your transmission is "clipping" and/or "garbled," using the term "cutting out" is not as clear or defined. Sometimes you get the term "carrier only," meaning no voice at all. That's one of the reasons English is the international aviation language as you say more with less syllables than any other language, meaning shorter trnasmissions using less air time.
@@AlbertHess-xy7ky you mean English is less confusing and shorter transmissions without extraneous words, plus readback confirmations also limits confusion?
Pilots Bill of Rights I will keep the airspeed up at all times I will never exceeded the angle of attack Above all I will fly the plane I will never fly distracted I will say “unable” when necessary I will declare an emergency without delay I will always follow the checklist I will quickly speak up to other pilots when something does not feel right I will fly the plane always I will always keep in mind the psychological factors of flying I will never fly when I’m tired I will practice safe decision-making I will keep the airspeed up at all times In an emergency I will never try to save the airplane only the people The day that I become compilation will be the day that I die
The pilot sounds like he didn't have a clue where he was, where he had been, where he was going or what his intentions were. Sounds like a complete loss of situational awareness. I really feel for the Air Traffic Controller, he sounded really upset 😢. He should have been relieved immediately.
I owned a similar airplane for 10 years. Lovely airplane to fly. However, complex and challenging when things go wrong because it's highly manual and labor intensive. Read a story about the CFI who had experience in this exact aircraft, having flown it for years, but apparently it has been sitting for up to the past three years. So it seemed smart to have her present. Unfortunately, if there were engine issues or control issues that low, the situation gets super tough. Im sure they tried their best. RIP aviators.
Another guy who should never had a license to begin with, almost 80yrs old is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY to old to be flying in command and a flight instructor almost as old, recipe for disaster
The pilot was 73 years old, Private/Multi/Instrument. The passenger was 78 years old, multiengine instructor, but no medical and CFI certificate had been expired for 2 years. Neither was an A&P.
I wonder if the pilot was having a heart attack or stroke, and just unaware of what was happening. Everything is just pure speculation at this point. Might explain issues pushing/holding down PTT using left hand on controls and also why the passenger later responded to ATC instead of the pilot.
'People who in a hurry are in a hurry to die" Slow down and take your time. I would have preflighted the aircraft twice, once as an A&P mechanic and once as a pilot. Before taxi I would have made sure all flight controls were free and operating correctly. I would have checked all radios and instruments for operation and correct readings. Then the rest would be normal. During my predeparture briefing I always tell everyone in the crew to "slow down, we do not want to be the lead in story on CNN News". I live south of Portland and as I remember back in the late 70's a United DC-8 Captain ran out of gas and crashed in Troutdale while on approach to Portland.
Apparently a 73-year-old pilot with his 78-year-old pilot friend in an airplane they hadn't flown in months......Two more old pilots who thought they still had 'the right stuff' but clearly didn't. Nothing wrong with flying at that age, but do it in a much simpler airplane (or a glider) and fly by yourself. The male ego is the most dangerous factor in GA flying.
@@techsolutions8237out of his lane? How about this - Pilot was a multimillionaire CEO that could have easily afforded to have an airplane mechanic make that first flight after repairs were done, however he decided he was the right man for the job, which turned out to be an ego-driven bad mistake that cost 3 people their lives. Personally, I hope a wrongful death lawsuit is filed against his estate for the sake of the beloved lady on the ground that he killed.
@@techsolutions8237 Even a brief perusal of fatal accidents reveals that 'old guys' are over-represented. Nothing wrong with offing yourself 'doing what you love' (in your own airplane). Problem is, in this case and in so many others, these old guys are taking friends and family members with them when they go.
@@MW97058 "Aircraft mechanics" don't make flights. They aren't pilots. The "passenger" was Jackie Whitford CFI. Always some jackass like you who is out of your lane, talking big about something they no nothing of...
I believe that the “pilot” might not be qualified to fly, or was on substances that are not allowed. The handling issues might be related to recent work, or could be the “pilot” not knowing how to fly this aircraft. I am interested in seeing what the NTSB has to say. This accident appears to be more likely to be the person at the flight controls caused.
9/6/2024 - when you say August 31 as the date, when the accident occurred, why don’t you state the year people will be watching this video 34 years from today. You need to state the complete date whenever you open your mouth on UA-cam.
I have always liked this twin Cessna model! Never found it difficult to operate. But this pilot never seemed to be ahead of this aircraft. It is a beast if the engines are not managed and the altitudes seem to show a lack of any real control of pitch and speed. This guy may have been impaired. Sad he took two down with him!!
Handling problem? He should have headed out over the lake and worked the issue. Emergency landing on water is slightly less problematic than on land. In either case, he was in big trouble.
Everyone wants to make excuses for this guy being incompetent and flying his plane into an innocent person's house after doing a test run over a densely populated area
The first thing is that the pilot proceeded with the flight, and the tower permitted this, with an almost unserviceable radio. To me it looks as the pilot pushing to fly the aircraft, no matter what.
5:19 "however, the audio is clear most of the time, and there were no unintelligible communications throughout the recording." Do you disagree with any of that?
It is an assumption in the media and this video that there was a passenger. It will come out eventually but both in the aircraft could be crew/mechanic/instructor and two for safety.
The lady has a CFI rating listed in the FAA database, but it expired two years ago. In common parlance out of respect we still refer to people as CFI's even if their CFI status is expired. It's different if their CFI certificate is revoked. Then it wouldn't even show up in the FAA database and we wouldn't refer to them as CFI's.
Lately twin engine planes have been falling out of the sky left and right around the country. Many of these crashes seem to involve hobby pilots. The FAA needs to consider reviewing and updating pilot qualifications for certification in twin engine airplanes, along with requiring minimum documented hours per year and continuing training to keep the certification valid. Pilots need to be certified for each twin type they fly. All pilots are responsible for the safe operation of their airplanes. Troutdale airspace borders on Portland International's airspace. Arrivals and departures pass through it. This twin could've flown right into a commercial jetliner. ATC is handling this by the book. At minimum, please see ATC Procedures as outlined in the US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) before posting comments regarding the interaction between the pilot and ATC in this unfortunate incident.
I'm not a pilot or aircraft owner but I've been around aircraft and operations during my stint in the Navy. It seems to me a pre-flight inspection after maintenance, particularly control surface system repairs, should be done with the aircraft mechanic and should take an hour or more to complete. Every detail of the work done should be reviewed with the mechanic. But how many pilots are well informed about their aircraft's maintenance needs, how they are performed, and by who? I shudder to think what is likely to happen when I take my car in for service!
In an idea world any mechanical work is supposed to have a thorough going over by the mechanical supervisor with a subsequent secondary sign-off. The pilot's pre-flight inspection should normally include a through check of control surface function with an external observer if required. But like all things, what is supposed to be done and what is done may be two different things. Apart from that it is always possible for errors to creep through even with rigorous cross-checking.
controls locked up. The pilot was ascending while trying to get this junky old Cessna flying yacht to turn. I saw unfortunate crash video. No communication suggests a complete loss of power.
The controller being “brash” did not help the flight crew. The controller divided the pilots already stressed SA during a troubleshooting event and this did not help. I can see future letigation on behalf of the flight crew and the civilian on the ground.
Never declared an emergency. Didn't fly where he said he wanted to go, and where he was cleared to go. Busted airspace. Had bad comms from the beginning, signalling that maybe he shouldn't have left the ground from the beginning. Had other traffic in the area he was watching for. Doesn't sound grumpy to me, sounds like he was aware.
Explain "douchey"? Prior to any hint from the PIC of an issue, he violates airspace for a nearby busy Class C terminal area, flies a flight track contrary to what he told ATC he would do, then when he finally speaks up and admits to having an issue gets all the assistance possible from a single controller on duty working two positions. Again, "douchey" HOW?
What.? Thats really inexcusably disrespectful but inappropriately vulgar. He obviously was under considerable stress but to my mind handled it very well. No doubt behind the scene he was calling the PD , ambulance, fire/rescue, and other resources.
If the radio was being g a issue he dhould have come in he didnt sou d confident or experienced he left it too late to be honest yo ATC and say I'm havingvissues handling p,and he was testing plane so nobody eould hsvdcyhougbt bad of him eho was the woman couldxdhe not have taken the controls and got ATC to talk them in it sayscit was a complex plane too hard for him ,did it say a six month maintained if that's case I'd scrapped plane if it gad bedn gone so long
The pilot doesn't sound particularly capable and it sounds like the plane wasn't the greatest plane but since they managed to steer in all directions at some point I can't quite figure out what the problem was. Maybe an elevator trim motor that just kept buzzing unless he held the button down to counter it so he was continually balancing that and that overwhelmed his limited piloting skills. Maybe a rebuild rescue inspired hack repair job. Flying a plane to see if it works is in itself a somewhat questionable premise. That's what a mechanic would do with a car. Doesn't work so well with planes. Side note: old junk is old junk. GA has an enormous infestation of old junk, compounded by rampant greed on all fronts of aviation. We need to clean house. No plane built before 1980 should ever exist. No plane model designed before 1980 should ever exist. A Cessna 412 is end to end engineering ew. Cessna should really be tried at the Hague next to israeI for crimes against humanity. They had one job.
Dumb statement. Lots of beautifully restored antiques flying about. Go to the Waaam museum in Hood River. The fly-in is this weekend. You might learn something. Obviously lots of airplanes made before 1980 will be present. Good luck!
Nice prose but lacking facts...how many years have you flown? Ratings? I suspect none. I have over 50 years in GA aircraft. Instructor...CFI...Double I...YOU? Moron...go to sleep...
Another boomer falls out of the sky. At some point soon insurance companies are just going to stop covering any pilot over the age of 65, the same way they've walked away from insuring homes in parts of Florida or California
Never let the facts get in the way of your favorite unsubstantiated conclusion! rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56302#:~:text=The%20pilot,4.00%2C%20p%20%3C%200.0001).
"the same way they've walked away from insuring homes in parts of Florida or California." Nice try CHILD (assuming you're a child because you're still young, dumb and alive) but try connecting people building houses in stupid places with the age of a pilot?
Kind of hard to watch for a few reasons... heart goes out to the pilot and passenger... As for the Air Safety Institute I miss Richard McSpadden but am glad these analysis' are continuing...
I can’t see the little orange logo without thinking of him. I wonder what happened in that cockpit.
@@lebojay It just doesn't scan for me that Richard would attempt the impossible turn (or advise it as pilot not flying) but the ADS-B data seems to suggest it.
I don't and won't know for sure. I do think that it's proof that none of us are immune to disaster and being intimately involved with aviation safety doesn't mean you won't be in an aviation incident. Rest in peace to both Richard and the pilot. Continuing this series was only right.
Your heart does nothing for them.
The man in this video has the perfect speaking voice for this subject.
and basically says little
@@Capecodhamjust like your worthless comment 😂
The physical exertion in his voice coupled with unable to control sounds like trim run away.
The flight instructor Jackie lived right behind me in AZ with her daughter. Rest in Peace Jackie
I knew the pilot. He just survived a heart attack a few months ago. Its the reason the plane sat in troutdale for 6 months
The victims were pilot Michael Busher, 73; flight instructor Jacqueline Whitford, 79; and Fairview resident Barbara MacDonald, 75. The plane crashed into a row of eight townhomes in Fairview, destroying three of them.
Michael C. Busher, in September 1990 he pleads guilty to Money Laundering before U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein in Seattle as he tried to pass $16 million in bogus U.S. Treasury checks to Seafirst Bank in Vancouver, Wash.
Thanks for the analysis. Post maintenance flights and flights after an aircraft has not been flown for months can be very risky. I hope that everyone did what they could to avoid this crash since this sadly took three lives, including one completely uninvolved person on the ground. A tragic reminder for all of us to take care and do careful preflights.
Agreed.
My practice when returning an A/C to service that had not been flown for months, (6 months+) is too conduct two(2) "flights".
The first is a taxi to the runup, perform all the taxi amd run up procedures, and once complete will preform several high rpm static runs for about 5 minutes each watching the temperature and other vitals. Cool down and perform again. If necessary I'll ask for a high speed run on the runway. I'll do this for about an hour.
Once complete ill taxi the place back to the hanger, park the plane for at least a day, and check things over.
Next "flight" will be a normal takeoff procedural flight but either a climbing traffic pattern to cruise altitude if possible but either way I'll stay in the pattern just flying circuits until I comfortable to depart the pattern but try to have altitude for gliding back to the airport if needed.
If everything checks out, the third flight is normal ops.
@@aarondoty2210 Your process seems like a good way to do it. I just finished the 50 hour inspection on my aircraft, and will perform the post-maintenance flight tomorrow morning when I'm fresh and cool. The maintenance facility at our airport does something similar to what you describe, and while it's annoying since they do the engine runs near my hangar, I fully agree with what they are doing.
@@aarondoty2210 Exactly. That was one of my first thoughts, when I heard 'test flight' and 'handling issues' in the coms: 'What ever happened to performing high-speed taxi tests following flight-control maintenance?' Of course we don't know what maintenance had been recently performed, etc. The NTSB will be able to find all that out soon enough.
Anyone else get the impression the pilot was not all there to start out with?
What we heard did sound extremely odd yes.
I think he was behind the aircraft, or he was over his head with things going on in the cockpit
Me too
just another boomer moment
@@ImpactWench I would just like to know were any of you there are any of you pilots or any of you airplane mechanics? Are you with the NTSB you know you can keep guessing and assuming and supposing and everything you want the truth will come out if the pilot said he was having issues with controlling the plane there was a mechanical problem I would guess and yes Jackie Whitford was my sister and I lost her to a tragic tragic accident. She’s very much missed in this family.
The pilot is unsure of what he wants to do - from beginning to end. That and the control issue make this a nightmare scenario. Better to talk yourself out of something than to talk yourself into something.
If you listen, he was distracted handling a plane that was not responding to his inputs. Aviate, navigate, then communicate, right? The final transmission was from Jackie, a flight instructor who took over the communicating...
They had their hands full..
From this viewpoint, the early communication now fits an individual whose calm demeanor does not reflect apathy.. but someone who is endeavoring to maintain control of a rapidly deteriorating situation...
Thank you for continuing these analyses. Those are some pretty big questions to answer.
My thought on the passenger on the plane, since it was a maintenance flight, she could have been a represtantive for the facility or the actual technician, My shop I used to work for would either have a lead technician or the DM go on the test flight.
She was the pilot's friend, a retired multiengine instructor. They were apparently working together to make the plane flyable.
She was a commercial rated CFI. Jakie Whitford. Highly qualified multi engine instructor. She had lots of time in the same plane with previous owners.
Having done numerous pre-flights with Jackie... she was exceptionally observant as to the positioning of control surfaces..
@@richrich8590 That just makes things even more mysterious...
@@igclapp something is not right with this entire picture. There was a 'air worthiness directive' applicable to the Cessna twins regarding the carry through spar that if failed would result in a loss of control. If it had failed, and was not caught in maintenance.. this would need to be addressed.. Jackie was a personal friend and her loss? It hits me as unnecessary..
The pilot was a 73 old man and the flight instructor was a 79 year old woman. The lady that was in the house was 75 years old and sleeping upstairs.
79 year old instructor??
@@bruceabrahamsen221That’s what I read on KOIN 6 news.
I would nevr get into a plane with a 73 year old pilot
@@creolelady182 How would you know?
73 years old pilot just recovering from a heart attack, the ATC should have been more gentle with him to not get his blood pressure up. The pilot was overwhelmed and the lady in the plane had to take over the radio to allow him to calm down.
First flight after maintenance is not for a pilot who is clearly not familiar with the aircraft. This seems like a combined test flight/orientation flight with an experienced instructor and a pilot who was clearly in over his head from the second he stepped into the cockpit.
I live on the very end of the gorge. Air traffic from the Troutdale airport often fly right over my house. I was mowing the lawn and had I looked up I would have seen the plane. His flt plan according to this video was right over my house. I did hear a loud boom and then a huge black cloud of smoke. My son is a ground/flight instructor at Troutdale. Profitable employment but can be very dangerous. Id rather see him driving school buses.
My sister was the passenger in that plane she’s been flying over 30 years had over 10,000 hours in the air and was a certified flight instructor out of Arizona. She sounded unsure to me when she said they’d try. That’s not like her. She must’ve known something terrible was gonna happen.
She has her forever wings now
One of my recurrent instructors for my C414A was the only surviving pilot of that elevator trim issue before the AD. Only survived due to a full airplane and using the passengers to move the CG. Chilling and scary story.
Those communications were very troubling. ATC good though.
There have now been quite a few Cessna 421 incidents where pitch control was a problem. What is going on?
the pilot was Mike Busher
Passenger was Jackie Whitford CFI.
Thank you. Finally, we have the names of those onboard. Don't know why their names had apparently not been released to the public sooner.
In the accident video, as the aircraft's left wing contacts electrical wires, I can see what appears to be the left cowling, on the left engine, open. If this is the case, you might expect control issues, such as a left yaw, and loss of lift on the left wing.
Michael C Busher, who someone below identified, was the 73 year old pilot and the passenger was JackieWhitford, 79 and a CFI. Busher was as of 3/16/2020, the new CEO of a local company NXSystems, involved in e-Banking. Sounds like a sharp guy, but know nothing of his flying experience or qualifications. Doesn't change the tragedy, only makes it worse.
There's no "Michael Busher" listed in the FAA airman database.
@@phillipzx3754 Try Michael C. Busher. He's a somewhat prominent local businessman. If he wasn't PIC, or even licensed, then Whitford was as a CFI. Was she current? I'm sure the prelim report will tell us what's what.
@@larryweitzman5163 There is no Michael C. Busher or Michael Busher listed in the airman database. If you can find him, I'd appreciate an update.
And no.. she was not current which is why she's not listed as a CFI. The term "CFI" shouldn't have even been brought up as a credential. In the end, like Jessica Dubroff, she was nothing more than a passenger on a test flight.
@@phillipzx3754 Interestingly, I too thought of the Jessica Dubroff crash. Dubroff wasn't even flying the Cardinal when that accident occurred on take-off in poor weather conditions. Gottagethereitis, a schedule to meet for her publicity stunt. I published about that crash (6/12/96, Mountain Democrat) and spent time on the radio discussing the stupidity of it all. Having a hand on the yoke is not flying the airplane.
Oddly enough, a second search of the database brought up Michael Busher.
I'm not sure what " Mountain Democrat" means?
Just remember at the end of the day ATC walks home regardless of how your flight ends. Do what you need to get home safely. Idk if altitude would've helped this doomed flight. I do know that I rather be copying a number to call after landing safely rather than hitting power lines trying to conform to a Class C restriction.
ATC has zero fault here.
Same. I was wondering if being at altitude would have given them some troubleshooting time. No blame, the thought just hit me. Maybe they should have said upfront this is a test flight and intentions to test at altitude or i to a designated training area
You wouldn't want to collide with a commercial jet coming into PDX.
The altitude discussion occurred before the pilot reported handling problems. After that the controller was quite helpful. With 20/20 hindsight I do think the handling problems started earlier in the flight.
Just read a comment on abc news channel where an employee of the pilot said it was his boss and his instructor on board and it was the first flight after repairs.
According to the FAA airman database, Jacqueline Kay Whitford was NOT a CFI (but she was a commercial pilot) nor was Michael Busher listed as a registered pilot.
Anyone have an answer for this mystery?
I just did a second search and I'll be damn if it didn't pop up. Weird that it didn't the first time.
Thank you for the info.👍
I tried to recreate this crash in Microsoft Flight Simulator with a twin prop at the Troutdale airport. It's as if the trim settings were set the way they were 6 months prior, for landing. When you do this, the trim will be too much downward trim, and if you set it for a 10mph cross wind, the rudder trim will be off to one side. It makes the entire fligth awkward. You may be able to climb if the plane is strait, but if you turn left or right you are going down without the ability to pull up to maintain altitude. If the trim settings were never set back to neutral after the landing 6 months ago, and you take off with an additional cross wind from some other direction, the complexity in knowing how to properly make the trim setting corrections can only be accomplished by a master pilot with 5,000 feet altitude (enough time) to get it figured out. Arguing tone with the pilot: "Are you going to do the pattern or not?" and "drop altitude now" these demands with a plane out of control, and in need of more altitude to give the pilot more time to figure things out added up to the disaster. Also, they should make it a policy to only fly east over the Columbia River, gaining altitude up to 5,000 feet to insure they have enough time to compensate for trim calibration errors. Just because the trim is set to zero doesn't mean its not with a 3-degree left rudder, and/or 5 degrees down aileron. Also, the trim has a friction control that if not set properly, the trim settings will slip. You can set the "upness" for take off, gain altitude, and if it slipped durring the climb, and you change your flaps from 20 degrees back to zero flaps, you will descend, and if the trim has slipped and you don't know it has slipped, and don't have enough altitude to figure it out, and the control tower is making demands upon you to drop altitude, you're not going to make it. Oh, did I mention you've got 15 seconds to figure out the problem, make the adjustments, and rise to a safe altitude?
Stop trying to be an armchair expert. Yt is full of you along with compulsive Braggers 🙄🙄🙄
Elevator trim settings? Full up trim?
If it was a mis rigged trim or runaway trim, would expect problems immediately on take off, which makes me think something else going on.
I believe the handling issue began during initial climb as the pilot focused more on aircraft control.
Just a guess, but it sounds like another runaway electric trim accident. He likely trimmed down, and it ran away. Pilot unfamiliar with how to disable it.
Heartbreaking. To hear "handling problems," worries me. I think y'all are right to note the directive on the elevator trim tap. The only thing that comes to mind that could have aided in that scenario would have been to lower flaps, maybe. The male pilot seems to have focused on flying the plane first, with the female pilot troubleshooting and hopping on the radio.
Test flight in the air ok . Maybe check all functions on the ground . I’ll probably get hammered for this .
That’s one flight that should never have left the ground on that day with that pilot; not only was it a post maintenance flight, witch is a bit iffy, his thoughts were not coherent
Post maintenance flights happen every day without issue in private and commercial. You're armchair qbing this a bit at this point.
I wonder if the elevator trim control button was near the push-to-talk button and his radio difficulties were contributing to his flying difficulties.
Seems more info is needed to make a determination. Tragic outcome, even after we learn from it. And we learn from every mishap.
Thank you, sir
All I can say is that this pilot seemed borderline overwhelmed before he even took off. It is too bad no information has been released on who the pilot was. Is this a coverup?
Not sure what made you immediately jump to coverup, but try to be patient - information comes slowly sometimes.
There has been plenty of information received at this point, including names, ages, and roles of all occupants onboard the aircraft, as well as the name of the person killed on the ground.
This was very well-presented. Thanks for just the facts!
I fly knowing that any flight could end in an incident. That is accepting a risk. Most times all works out fine...not in this instance RIP
This has signs of runaway trim or backwards rigging possibly. AP servo motor issue possibly... I have to assume controls were free, clear and correct on the run up
Mike, there are three terms for transmissions such as in the video, the communication is either, "broken," your transmission is "clipping" and/or "garbled," using the term "cutting out" is not as clear or defined. Sometimes you get the term "carrier only," meaning no voice at all. That's one of the reasons English is the international aviation language as you say more with less syllables than any other language, meaning shorter trnasmissions using less air time.
And more confusing.
@@AlbertHess-xy7ky you mean English is less confusing and shorter transmissions without extraneous words, plus readback confirmations also limits confusion?
@@larryweitzman5163 English vocabulary is a mess. Read back is not language based. Wild guess, you speak only English?
@@AlbertHess-xy7ky I would disagree, but yes I speak English and a bit of French
Blancolirio said it all !
One controller??
It's a small field.
6 months inactive... dangerous
My nickel on the grass.
I'm curious as to why a post maintenance test flight was with a passenger?
✝️🇦🇺
Apparently the pilot was a CFI, so likely intended to be a test flight and proficiency check rolled into one.
Why do you refer to the airplane as an aircraft?
Isn't the aircraft an airplane?
Pilots Bill of Rights
I will keep the airspeed up at all times
I will never exceeded the angle of attack
Above all I will fly the plane
I will never fly distracted
I will say “unable” when necessary
I will declare an emergency without delay
I will always follow the checklist
I will quickly speak up to other pilots when something does not feel right
I will fly the plane always
I will always keep in mind the psychological factors of flying
I will never fly when I’m tired
I will practice safe decision-making
I will keep the airspeed up at all times
In an emergency I will never try to save the airplane only the people
The day that I become compilation will be the day that I die
The pilot sounds like he didn't have a clue where he was, where he had been, where he was going or what his intentions were. Sounds like a complete loss of situational awareness.
I really feel for the Air Traffic Controller, he sounded really upset 😢. He should have been relieved immediately.
Repo?
As a former army aviator, nothing about this makes sense.
It really does almost look like the cowling door is open on the left hand engine un less this happened the moment it struck the powerlines.
I owned a similar airplane for 10 years. Lovely airplane to fly. However, complex and challenging when things go wrong because it's highly manual and labor intensive. Read a story about the CFI who had experience in this exact aircraft, having flown it for years, but apparently it has been sitting for up to the past three years. So it seemed smart to have her present. Unfortunately, if there were engine issues or control issues that low, the situation gets super tough. Im sure they tried their best. RIP aviators.
Another guy who should never had a license to begin with, almost 80yrs old is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY to old to be flying in command and a flight instructor almost as old, recipe for disaster
Did you know them? Wasn’t the pilot or were you there?
Not sure if this is an “early” analysis
Rod Pass
The pilot was off from the get go. Didn’t know how to talk to ATC and used incorrect terminology. I think this thing was doomed before it took off.
How is it that we do not yet know anything about who was on board the airplane, or much about its operating currency or history.
I"m sure people know it's just not being shared with the public at this time.
The pilot was 73 years old, Private/Multi/Instrument. The passenger was 78 years old, multiengine instructor, but no medical and CFI certificate had been expired for 2 years. Neither was an A&P.
I wonder if the pilot was having a heart attack or stroke, and just unaware of what was happening. Everything is just pure speculation at this point. Might explain issues pushing/holding down PTT using left hand on controls and also why the passenger later responded to ATC instead of the pilot.
Then you'd think the CFI in the other seat would have taken control and brought the aircraft back in for a safe landing.
@@I_EvoShe did come on the radio just before the crash. Maybe she was about to take over but it was too late.
'People who in a hurry are in a hurry to die" Slow down and take your time. I would have preflighted the aircraft twice, once as an A&P mechanic and once as a pilot. Before taxi I would have made sure all flight controls were free and operating correctly. I would have checked all radios and instruments for operation and correct readings. Then the rest would be normal. During my predeparture briefing I always tell everyone in the crew to "slow down, we do not want to be the lead in story on CNN News". I live south of Portland and as I remember back in the late 70's a United DC-8 Captain ran out of gas and crashed in Troutdale while on approach to Portland.
Apparently a 73-year-old pilot with his 78-year-old pilot friend in an airplane they hadn't flown in months......Two more old pilots who thought they still had 'the right stuff' but clearly didn't. Nothing wrong with flying at that age, but do it in a much simpler airplane (or a glider) and fly by yourself. The male ego is the most dangerous factor in GA flying.
The passenger was a CFI, commercial pilot. The plane was in maintenance. So I am sure the CFI was current in other aircraft.
You are out of your lane.
@@techsolutions8237out of his lane? How about this - Pilot was a multimillionaire CEO that could have easily afforded to have an airplane mechanic make that first flight after repairs were done, however he decided he was the right man for the job, which turned out to be an ego-driven bad mistake that cost 3 people their lives. Personally, I hope a wrongful death lawsuit is filed against his estate for the sake of the beloved lady on the ground that he killed.
@@techsolutions8237 Even a brief perusal of fatal accidents reveals that 'old guys' are over-represented. Nothing wrong with offing yourself 'doing what you love' (in your own airplane). Problem is, in this case and in so many others, these old guys are taking friends and family members with them when they go.
@@MW97058 "Aircraft mechanics" don't make flights. They aren't pilots. The "passenger" was Jackie Whitford CFI.
Always some jackass like you who is out of your lane, talking big about something they no nothing of...
It sounds like the rudder and/or elevator had been rendered disabled and the pilot could not control the direction or altitude of flight.
I believe that the “pilot” might not be qualified to fly, or was on substances that are not allowed. The handling issues might be related to recent work, or could be the “pilot” not knowing how to fly this aircraft. I am interested in seeing what the NTSB has to say. This accident appears to be more likely to be the person at the flight controls caused.
It is 5 days later and still we do not know who was on the plane??????
It's said you're the test pilot when your aircraft comes out of maintenance.
9/6/2024 - when you say August 31 as the date, when the accident occurred, why don’t you state the year people will be watching this video 34 years from today. You need to state the complete date whenever you open your mouth on UA-cam.
I have always liked this twin Cessna model! Never found it difficult to operate. But this pilot never seemed to be ahead of this aircraft. It is a beast if the engines are not managed and the altitudes seem to show a lack of any real control of pitch and speed. This guy may have been impaired. Sad he took two down with him!!
We don't know the pilot's experience, ratings or how familiar or current he was with the aircraft. Stop there. We know nothing!
I stopped there. I wait for more info.
Handling problem? He should have headed out over the lake and worked the issue. Emergency landing on water is slightly less problematic than on land. In either case, he was in big trouble.
He was a terrible pilot.
Everyone wants to make excuses for this guy being incompetent and flying his plane into an innocent person's house after doing a test run over a densely populated area
It sounded like there were no qualified pilots in the aircraft.
The first thing is that the pilot proceeded with the flight, and the tower permitted this, with an almost unserviceable radio. To me it looks as the pilot pushing to fly the aircraft, no matter what.
5:19 "however, the audio is clear most of the time, and there were no unintelligible communications throughout the recording."
Do you disagree with any of that?
Are the color flashing lights from the tower only for emergency use?
🌏🇦🇺
It is an assumption in the media and this video that there was a passenger. It will come out eventually but both in the aircraft could be crew/mechanic/instructor and two for safety.
She was a multiengine instructor, though not current. So in NTSB terms she is considered a "pilot rated passenger".
Non-standard phraseology? That's just the surest way to know you're in the US.
The pilot’s voice sounds very much like Air Wagner🤷♂️
It wasn’t Jerry. He has commented on one of his videos since this crash.
I'm waiting for AOPA to do his analysis soon.
Good summary from an obvious professional, Thank You.
you dont have the pilot details - so a bit early for early analysis
The pilot was Private/Multi/Instrument with a current medical. The lady was a retired MEI, not current.
@@phillipzx3754 He is shown as being a pilot and even had a current medical.
The lady has a CFI rating listed in the FAA database, but it expired two years ago. In common parlance out of respect we still refer to people as CFI's even if their CFI status is expired. It's different if their CFI certificate is revoked. Then it wouldn't even show up in the FAA database and we wouldn't refer to them as CFI's.
It’s been a week…why is it still not possible to obtain the pilot and the copilot/passenger’s identity and affiliation with the accident aircraft???
Possibly the families don't want it released.
Why is it important?
Lately twin engine planes have been falling out of the sky left and right around the country. Many of these crashes seem to involve hobby pilots. The FAA needs to consider reviewing and updating pilot qualifications for certification in twin engine airplanes, along with requiring minimum documented hours per year and continuing training to keep the certification valid. Pilots need to be certified for each twin type they fly. All pilots are responsible for the safe operation of their airplanes. Troutdale airspace borders on Portland International's airspace. Arrivals and departures pass through it. This twin could've flown right into a commercial jetliner. ATC is handling this by the book. At minimum, please see ATC Procedures as outlined in the US Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) before posting comments regarding the interaction between the pilot and ATC in this unfortunate incident.
Your comments are very huffed up, hence, less than credible.
Your perception is highly flawed and there is no such thing as a hobby pilot
65 age limit should be imposed
Why dont they take a safety pilot.Like me
😊
The lady was a multiengine instructor and it still didn't help.
@@igclapp Delta retired Capt.
@@neatstuff1988 Since when does Delta not require ATP and type ratings? Neither pilot had those.
@@neatstuff1988 Sorry, you mean you are retired from Delta?
@@igclapp yep. Actualy flew this exact plane 1978.
I'm not a pilot or aircraft owner but I've been around aircraft and operations during my stint in the Navy. It seems to me a pre-flight inspection after maintenance, particularly control surface system repairs, should be done with the aircraft mechanic and should take an hour or more to complete. Every detail of the work done should be reviewed with the mechanic. But how many pilots are well informed about their aircraft's maintenance needs, how they are performed, and by who? I shudder to think what is likely to happen when I take my car in for service!
In an idea world any mechanical work is supposed to have a thorough going over by the mechanical supervisor with a subsequent secondary sign-off. The pilot's pre-flight inspection should normally include a through check of control surface function with an external observer if required. But like all things, what is supposed to be done and what is done may be two different things. Apart from that it is always possible for errors to creep through even with rigorous cross-checking.
I got a notice, forgot I was subscribed.
controls locked up. The pilot was ascending while trying to get this junky old Cessna flying yacht to turn. I saw unfortunate crash video. No communication suggests a complete loss of power.
The controller being “brash” did not help the flight crew. The controller divided the pilots already stressed SA during a troubleshooting event and this did not help. I can see future letigation on behalf of the flight crew and the civilian on the ground.
1977 ... an unlucky year.
Seriously? Is this some pilot superstition?
Why? Unlucky!🤔🤷
just because Elvis died?
ATC was a bit grumpy
Never declared an emergency.
Didn't fly where he said he wanted to go, and where he was cleared to go.
Busted airspace.
Had bad comms from the beginning, signalling that maybe he shouldn't have left the ground from the beginning.
Had other traffic in the area he was watching for.
Doesn't sound grumpy to me, sounds like he was aware.
Air Safety Institute, Subscribed because your videos always make me smile!
I don't see a hell of a lot to smile about in ASI's videos. Do you find analyses of airplane crashes to be amusing?
^ It's a comment bot. Needs to be blocked,
Do ATCs usually sound that douchey?
Not usually, the voices are often like that, but in a better mood.
I agree. No empathy or initial help from this controller. But rightly so airspace in that area is very tight. His tone is not the best.
Explain "douchey"? Prior to any hint from the PIC of an issue, he violates airspace for a nearby busy Class C terminal area, flies a flight track contrary to what he told ATC he would do, then when he finally speaks up and admits to having an issue gets all the assistance possible from a single controller on duty working two positions. Again, "douchey" HOW?
What.? Thats really inexcusably disrespectful but inappropriately vulgar. He obviously was under considerable stress but to my mind handled it very well. No doubt behind the scene he was calling the PD , ambulance, fire/rescue, and other resources.
@@Dmac737 I dont get it, he did all that could be done - so he was going to prevent the crash with empathy ? Thats pretty silly.
If the radio was being
g a issue he dhould have come in he didnt sou d confident or experienced he left it too late to be honest yo ATC and say I'm havingvissues handling p,and he was testing plane so nobody eould hsvdcyhougbt bad of him eho was the woman couldxdhe not have taken the controls and got ATC to talk them in it sayscit was a complex plane too hard for him ,did it say a six month maintained if that's case I'd scrapped plane if it gad bedn gone so long
If your keyboard wasn't working properly you could have read and edited your garbled comment before hitting send.
If you have issues with writing don't comment.
I tried google translate, but that didn't help.
People who do not proof read their comments drive me crazy, just wasted space!
@@essevaikonpaa5184 Your sew write, HA, HA.
The pilot doesn't sound particularly capable and it sounds like the plane wasn't the greatest plane but since they managed to steer in all directions at some point I can't quite figure out what the problem was. Maybe an elevator trim motor that just kept buzzing unless he held the button down to counter it so he was continually balancing that and that overwhelmed his limited piloting skills. Maybe a rebuild rescue inspired hack repair job. Flying a plane to see if it works is in itself a somewhat questionable premise. That's what a mechanic would do with a car. Doesn't work so well with planes.
Side note: old junk is old junk. GA has an enormous infestation of old junk, compounded by rampant greed on all fronts of aviation. We need to clean house. No plane built before 1980 should ever exist. No plane model designed before 1980 should ever exist. A Cessna 412 is end to end engineering ew. Cessna should really be tried at the Hague next to israeI for crimes against humanity. They had one job.
Dumb statement. Lots of beautifully restored antiques flying about. Go to the Waaam museum in Hood River. The fly-in is this weekend. You might learn something. Obviously lots of airplanes made before 1980 will be present. Good luck!
@@Mtnhiker56 no you are just conditioned to the sad state of GA and maybe laid down on the ice of nostalgia to sleep.
Nice prose but lacking facts...how many years have you flown? Ratings? I suspect none. I have over 50 years in GA aircraft. Instructor...CFI...Double I...YOU? Moron...go to sleep...
Another boomer falls out of the sky. At some point soon insurance companies are just going to stop covering any pilot over the age of 65, the same way they've walked away from insuring homes in parts of Florida or California
Never let the facts get in the way of your favorite unsubstantiated conclusion! rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56302#:~:text=The%20pilot,4.00%2C%20p%20%3C%200.0001).
So this can’t happen to you since you’re not a ‘boomer’?
@@toddjohnson5399 Young pilots die because they think they know everything.
"the same way they've walked away from insuring homes in parts of Florida or California." Nice try CHILD (assuming you're a child because you're still young, dumb and alive) but try connecting people building houses in stupid places with the age of a pilot?
Lady in right seat turned autopilot on in heading mode on accident . Thats what happened.
His call was as what they say when that happens
They will just need to look at light filaments on buttons. Under microscope
Interesting assumption🤷
I’m not a pilot but wouldn’t the pilot putting in heavy inputs turn the autopilot off?
@@daveg-Vancouver_Island Of course it would. They just heard a woman's voice in a video and their brain broke.