Very Short Field Landing

[Jim Hardin]

I am sure that most have seen this one, but you have to admire how well it turned out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Qgpw2Smrk

[chicagorandy]

Yikes! But a real-life demonstration of spreading the crash forces over time. That tree likely saved a life.

[MrMorden]

Yikes! But a real-life demonstration of spreading the crash forces over time. That tree likely saved a life.

Indeed, that was a much softer impact than it would have been otherwise. He tried to miss the tree, but it looks like a good thing he clipped it!

[Warmi]

He did attempt to slow down bringing the nose high up, just before he started turning to avoid the tree - wonder if that was purely instinctively cause he saw the tree or he knew he was going down there and attempted to basically flare to get rid of his forward speed.

[Wm.Ince]

Looked to me like the airplane was entering a stalled condition with the left wing beginning to drop.

[chicagorandy]

playing the video back at 1/4 speed, when the plane first appears to the left of the screen it is already in a dramatic pitched up/left wing low attitude as if trying to avoid the tree line? Power off stall perhaps?

[FastEddieB]

"It's better to be lucky than good!"

And this fellow was VERY lucky, no argument there.

But this does emphasize at least two rules...

1) FLY the plane as far into the crash as you can, and,

2) Crash with the absolute minimum speed/energy.

This pilot appeared to be right on the edge of a stall when he hit the tree, which is pretty much ideal. It may have been intentional or instinctive, but being just a bit faster or slower could have had far more serious results.

Whatever preceded this, at least it culminated in a good outcome that deserves accolades.

[Jim Hardin]

Yes it turned out well and that counts!

FastEddie: Good tips on how to crash ~ first hand experience?