Killer Alaska Mosquitos

[colmbo]

Having been swarmed by these pests I understand his angst.  Sad.

Link to story

Aviation
NTSB: Alaska pilot killed by propeller left plane running to ward off mosquitoes


The Wasilla pilot killed by a moving plane propeller last week in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park left his plane idling to ward off mosquitoes, according to the preliminary investigation report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

According to the report, Clark Baldwin’s plane, along with three others, were left running while the group loaded up the planes at the Peavine Bar Airstrip in the park, about 15 miles east of McCarthy.

"To stave off swarms of mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the engines of all four airplanes were started and allowed to operate at idle, with the cockpits unattended," the report said.

RELATED:
NTSB: Wasilla pilot killed by propeller in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
While loading gear on the right side of his Super Cub, the next plane began moving forward. Baldwin tried to move to the front of the plane to keep the planes from colliding, but ran into the back of a spinning propeller. He was struck three times, the report said.

Baldwin was the owner and operator of Alaska’s Cub Training Specialists, a flight school.

The planes were heading to Cordova when they touched down in the park to do off-airport landing and gravel bar training, a park ranger said last week.

[morfiend]

Wow!!!

  Living in the great white north I'm familiar with these pests but I have never heard of such a thing happening.

    I have had trouble seeing while riding a bike as my visor was covered with bugs,but as I said this is a new one for me.


    Too bad the fellow lost his life!


   

[saggs]

Working in aviation in Alaska, I was familiar with this story.  Just found out yesterday that Baldwin was a friend of one of my co-workers.  By all accounts he was a very experienced pilot and instructor.  It's a sad story, and I suppose a lesson that complacency and poor S.A. can happen to even the best.

And yes.  Mosquitoes in Alaska often really are THAT bad.

[DmonSlyr]

Working in aviation in Alaska, I was familiar with this story.  Just found out yesterday that Baldwin was a friend of one of my co-workers.  By all accounts he was a very experienced pilot and instructor.  It's a sad story, and I suppose a lesson that complacency and poor S.A. can happen to even the best.

And yes.  Mosquitoes in Alaska often really are THAT bad.

Thanks for the info  such a horrific story ..

[Karnak]

Ouch.  I am sorry to see this.  Sadly, a moment of inattention is all it takes sometimes.

[hgtonyvi]

It's a sad story. But leaving a plane engine on idle, can't you lock the brakes on the wheels? Like putting a car in park but the engine still runs.

[saggs]

It's a sad story. But leaving a plane engine on idle, can't you lock the brakes on the wheels? Like putting a car in park but the engine still runs.

Yes they have a park brake, but much more effective is brakes + wheel chocks.   Also when you're talking about backcountry aircraft like this, they likely have fairly large tires fitted, which will roll easier over rough terrain.