This one hit pretty close to home. I've tried to avoid letting the cat out of the bag as for where I instruct at, but for the impact of this to really sink in it's necessary. Besides, I'll only be there for another six weeks or so (crosses fingers about the job interview next monday).
This is the email we got from our chief flight instructor this morning;
Students, Instructors, and Dispatchers,
Yesterday two Pan Am students lost their lives in a plane crash. We talked
to their Chief Flight Instructor today and he filled us in on some of the
details. It was two multi-engine private pilots performing one of their
"Route" flights to San Diego at night in a Piper Seminole. Initial reports
indicate that there may have been some miscommunication with ATC which
caused the pilots to descend early. The airplane struck the ground near the
Julian VORTAC. Both pilots were in their early twenties, single, with no
children.
More information is available at:
http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/news/3291359/detail.html Even though Pan Am is one of our direct competitors, the fact is that we all
lost two friends yesterday. This is a tragedy for all of us. Please be
sensitive to everyone's feelings. We have a lot of Westwind students who
are friends with Pan Am students. This is going to be especially difficult
for them.
We ask that you keep the speculation to a minimum. We weren't there and we
don't know what went wrong. Let's leave the investigation to the NTSB.
We have offered Pan Am whatever support we can give as a company and as
friends. There may be a special memorial service for the pilots here at
Deer Valley. We will keep you posted.
We ask that you remember the pilots' family and friends in your thoughts and
prayers.
Sincerely,
Westwind Management
