Took a job today flying some chickens from Ketchikan to Johnson Petersburg. When I got there the wind was from the West about 26 mph, so I decided to use rwy 23 rather than a straight in to rwy 5. As I was turning from a right base to final I noticed these trees sticking up near the end of the runway, quite high. I had a red/white on the Vasi, so I started thinking, I haven't hit one of these trees yet, and I have come quite close, maybe these trees are just a mirage, and they won't be a problem, plus I have got the darn Vasi lights on my side.... So I continued the approach,, The result was ......................................................

 

 

My pet spotted owl "Bunyan" narrowly escaped your spinning prop.

:Chicken: <bok bok bok!>

 

Trees aren't instant-crash, either, unless you hit them square-on.

 

I managed to catch just a wingtip on a tree once, going for an aerocache at the bottom of a waterfall, and it nearly spun me around sideways. I wallowed around in the air like a drunken turtle with wings for a few seconds as I got the plane back under control, smacking a few more limbs along the way, which didn't help at all, but I did manage to get the plane back up in the air again with the twirly thingy on front pointing in the right direction.

 

:p0504:

:Chicken: <bok bok bok!>

 

Trees aren't instant-crash, either, unless you hit them square-on.

 

I managed to catch just a wingtip on a tree once, going for an aerocache at the bottom of a waterfall, and it nearly spun me around sideways. I wallowed around in the air like a drunken turtle with wings for a few seconds as I got the plane back under control, smacking a few more limbs along the way, which didn't help at all, but I did manage to get the plane back up in the air again with the twirly thingy on front pointing in the right direction.

 

:p0504:

 

 

I am afraid I hit the thickest part of the tree, near the top, and the Maule did a snap roll into the ground. I am surprised the co-pilot didn't saw a word. He may have been knocked unconscious. :p0128:

the co-pilot didn't saw a word. He may have been knocked unconscious.

 

NTSB Investigator examining the wreckage: "Why is there a large pipe-wrench in the back seat?"

Here's something else tree-wise. Last night I was in a similar situation to the OP, flying the Red Tail in what would otherwise be a good approach, if not for the tall trees in the path. In the external view, I lowered the eyepoint so that I could see the landing gear from behind the tail. Passing over a particularly tall tree, I could see for certain that my P-51 cleared it, and there were no more trees right in front.

 

A split second later, as my viewpoint (not the plane) was about to meet the tree - crash!

 

I could not repeat this in three or four tries, but it seemed very clear: what hit the tree was not my plane, but the position of my virtual eyepoint. I don't suppose things should work this way.

 

An observation that may corroborate this: when using the external view, the VASI lights often change as you move the eyepoint up and down. It seems the state of the VASI lights reflects the altitude of your "eyes" rather than the aircraft's. When inside the pit, the difference is negligible, but in the outside view it is not. Perhaps this is also why the eyepoint may crash into a tree.

Here's something else tree-wise. Last night I was in a similar situation to the OP, flying the Red Tail in what would otherwise be a good approach, if not for the tall trees in the path. In the external view, I lowered the eyepoint so that I could see the landing gear from behind the tail. Passing over a particularly tall tree, I could see for certain that my P-51 cleared it, and there were no more trees right in front.

 

A split second later, as my viewpoint (not the plane) was about to meet the tree - crash!

 

I could not repeat this in three or four tries, but it seemed very clear: what hit the tree was not my plane, but the position of my virtual eyepoint. I don't suppose things should work this way.

 

An observation that may corroborate this: when using the external view, the VASI lights often change as you move the eyepoint up and down. It seems the state of the VASI lights reflects the altitude of your "eyes" rather than the aircraft's. When inside the pit, the difference is negligible, but in the outside view it is not. Perhaps this is also why the eyepoint may crash into a tree.

 

There was an issue like that years ago with FS9, when using outside view, if you turned a corner while taxiing, and your eyepoint came too close to a piece of scenery, it would cause a crash. Had to be careful when taxiing with alot of close scenery.

 

NTSB Investigator examining the wreckage: "Why is there a large pipe-wrench in the back seat?"

 

That co-pilot really has an attitude....... :p0302: