Passenger lands plane when pilot has medical emergency

[ZackyDog]

Heroes! I hope that there is no PTSD.

'I Have No Idea How to Fly': Passenger Lands Plane After Pilot Goes 'Incoherent'

A passenger with no flying experience managed to land a small plane at a Florida airport after the pilot suffered a medical emergency during the flight.

www.nbcconnecticut.com

Robert Morgan (air traffic controller) and Darren Harrison (passenger)

 

[dkmw]

See, Florida Man isn’t all bad

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Outstanding job, people of Florida!!! I used to fly around in a similar plane with a pilot friend, and I often wondered if I would be able to safely land the plane if he had a heart attack or something. I am not sure if I would have even been able to operate the radio to contact ATC.

 

[Sparky2]

A frightening situation, and a great and fortunate outcome!!

Man, such a great air traffic controller and level-headed passenger.

 

[Gene O.]

Outstanding job, people of Florida!!! I used to fly around in a similar plane with a pilot friend, and I often wondered if I would be able to safely land the plane if he had a heart attack or something. I am not sure if I would have even been able to operate the radio to contact ATC.

Our acoustic trio played for a couple having her birthday party in their airplane hanger. The guy builds 2-seater, 200HP planes with a couple partners. He said to come up anytime and he'd take me for a ride. I wondered if he'd give me a quick course on, at the very minimum, how to use the radio.

 

[Guitarzan]

A Cessna 208 is a Caravan with a single turboprop engine. It is fairly sizable and complex for a completely inexperienced person to land.

Cessna Caravan

The Cessna Caravan has consistently defined versatility and performance. Operators around the world depend on the Caravan and have been rewarded with unparalleled reliability.

cessna.txtav.com

 

[Telekarster]

WOW!!! That's a heck of a thing for a non-flyer to do! GREAT job dude, and GREAT job controller! Cessna 208 - nice place too I think the owners insurance company should give them both a few bucks or something cause dang.... that could've turned into a really bad situation, really fast. I hope the pilot is doing ok.

 

[Telekarster]

A Cessna 208 is a Caravan with a single turboprop engine. It is fairly sizable and complex for a completely inexperienced person to land.

Cessna Caravan

The Cessna Caravan has consistently defined versatility and performance. Operators around the world depend on the Caravan and have been rewarded with unparalleled reliability.

cessna.txtav.com

No kidding man!!! I mean... wow. Any plane would be scary as heck for someone to land without experience, but a turboprop???? Geesh... incredible job they did no doubt about it.

 

[telleutelleme]

Thankfully the ATC was also a certified instructor familiar with the plane. The passenger was also extremely calm. Great combination.

 

[brookdalebill]

I love stories like this.
Thanks!

 

[ZackyDog]

I love stories like this.
Thanks!

Me too. De nada!

 

[MarkieMark]

Ya know, It takes some cahones.

I have flown in various situations. I took pilot lessons. I can tell you in all seriousness....

I think I could relatively quickly learn to fly most common craft.
Taking off isn't generally that challenging either, with a few exceptions.

That landing thing though....
Can be complicated.

"It was touch and go, but I think I nailed it on the third try" isn't exactly the best approach

Props where props are due.

 

[David Meiland]

PBI has a 10,000 foot runway, a pretty good target for a Caravan.

We have a lot of Caravan traffic at our local airport, which is 3,400 feet. You need to know how to come in slow and then reverse the prop pitch to land those here.

 

[Larry F]

I read about a study where a non-pilot had to take over. The radio was a problem.