Better/sharper image. Nearby Irvine was my place of residence for over 14 years up until 2010. I could not start to count the number of times I flew to and from KSNA on business. I also frequented the excellent Lyon Air Museum countless times. It is just off of the apron at the right edge of this photo.  

 

I cannot fathom mistaking the taxiway (indicated by the red arrow).  It does not look like a runway and has zero runway markings. The taxiway also adjoins other paved surface, clearly removing any runway appearance.  It is also significantly closer to the terminal tarmac, terminal, and aircraft at the gates.

 

Sorry. Know he is a popular celebrity.  This was a bad one.... 

 

 

 

According to is Wiki - https://en.wikipedia...i/Harrison_Ford, he keeps his aircraft at Santa Monica which is not too far from John Wayne. I would think he is familiar with the airports in the region and this is not his first landing at John Wayne.

 

He has flown in/out of both of those airfields more than once, he knows (or should know) the difference between the smaller runway and a taxiway. :rolleyes:

He flew again in his Citation.

this isn't the first time.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/harrison-ford-plane-crash.html?_r=0

I was told they pulled his ticket?

Best

BaldyB

 

 

I was told they pulled his ticket?

By whom? I don't see anything in typical aviation sources.

By whom? I don't see anything in typical aviation sources.

Leaks vs Privacy laws

He does not seem to be aware of the situation. Come on a 737 below you and you don't realize that something is wrong. celebrity or not they should ground him. That is clear and present danger

I won the Reserve Grand Champion Ultralight in the "GeezerHawk" at the All American Sport Aviation Fly In at Alliance in 1996 and it was a blast.

 

As about 10 of ultralighters came in we flew over the AA maintenance hangar and flew above the vertical stab of an AA 747, about 30' above the tail, it was crazy.

We had the use of a taxi way to use as a runway at designated times.

 

We'd land and reach a certain point, get out and push/pull our tiny UL's in through the throngs of fans and into our respective tie down spots.

 

I really had some fans, we had a 500' ceiling during the whole fly in, and during our demo I would accelerate, lift off about a foot, accelerate all I could and haul back, I'd be at 500' (Mind ye that at full throttle she'd climb trying to hold her down) in no time, so folks were sure enough coming up to me and asking tone of questions.

 

I missed the Grand Champion spot by maybe one or two votes, and some folks were mad.

 

The GC was a Hurricane with a powder coated black and pink paint job and sat on a trailer 90% of the time.

 

It would not even try to start for the demo flights, many referred to it as a trailer queen that has probably never flown, I was happy with reserve GC.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38976965

 

How has he retained his license that age ? Are the Aviation rules different in the US or can one have a license even at his age ?

 

The oldest Portuguese glider pilot in 90 yo, and still flying. He has a CAA license, because here in Portugal it would be difficult to get the Type 2 medical certificate.

 

Regarding the OP, I recall a TAP A340 landing at Sao Paulo Guarulhos  (SBGR) in 2006, on a taxiway...

 

Regarding the 737, probably he just became aware of it already over the rw. Probably the 737 taxied into that taxiway late during his "approach" ...

 

Age doesn't help, for sure, but it's certainly not the only factor - most accidents happen by "stupid" situations like this - and it can happen to anyone, specially on a single crew..., someone driving a car or a motorcycle,... preparing dinner, ...

I for one old baby boomer due wonder at times about the airline seniority system in place since the Ernest Gan days. Is it really the safest system if the most fair to the pilots? When I graduated from the ATC Academy in OK City in 1977 and went to my first tower facility which was non radar approach control (khot) I felt I was a lot closer to the books as well as more alert and faster thinking then some of the old home steaders who seem to be stuck in out dated procedures and relied more on lazy habits. I had to do things their way and ask questions discreetly if I wanted my facility rating. Some of them were unsafe in a lazy way.

I think I have seen the same among some doctors. Sometimes the young grads are more up to date, talented, and ambitious then the old Doc Adams saw bones types.

On the news this morning (GMA), they played the ATC recordings. His initial call was to the wrong tower, and he at first identified himself as "helicopter" then after a few additional stutters managed to call out the correct aircraft. His next transmission he'd forgotten to change frequency and again contacted the wrong tower...

 

It seems he was not having a very good day and sounded quite confused.

According to his Wiki, he was own a helicopter but is located up in Jackson Wyoming.  Perhaps he had been up there earlier and flying it around Lake Jackson.

Sounds like disorientation , maybe he was smoking some

I guess when you have access to so many different types of aircraft you get confused, although not sure how one can mistake a Husky for a Helicopter. I would argue there is some cognitive issues going on and if he keeps flying by himself he is risking a serious accident. The sign of a good pilot is to know when it's time to hang it up! Or at least have another qualified pilot fly with you!