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2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Kid in the cockpit

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

A pilot was letting his 15-year old son fly his plane. Nothing there that would justify a Darwin Award...except that the aircraft in question was a brand-new Airbus A310....FULL OF PASSENGERS! So our Darwin Award hopeful is letting his son fly the plane thinking the autopilot was actually flying the plane. Both true AND false. He did not realize that his son was turning the yolk to the left while the plane was in straight and level flight, and by so doing, partially disconnected the autopilot so his son was actually controlling the ailerons (the flaps that control the bank of a turn). So when his son let go of the yolk, the plane started banking to the right, which was noticed by the kid. This alarmed the pilots because the turn was very similar to an airplane in a holding pattern. For nine seconds, the confused pilots were trying to figure out why the computer was showing a holding pattern, not realizing that the plane was banking alarmingly to the right...until it reached a 45-degree angle. This lead to the full disconnection of the autopilot. That's when the plane started to approach a stall. So the kid and the copilot are flying the plane desperately trying to avoid a stall. The G-forces were so strong that the pilot could not get to his seat. Momentarily, the g-forces were sufficient enough for the pilot to return to his seat. They tried to get control of the plane, but it was too late. The plane crashed. Here is where they really qualify for a Darwin award. The stall could have been prevented. They didn't realize that Airbus installs on its A310's an Anti-stall system that will recover the airplane, even when it is stalling. All they had to do....was let go of the yolk.

Submitted on 05/28/2008

Submitted by: Philip Siegfried
Reference: March 23, 1994

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Toss: Bystanders Hurt
I find this story a bit difficult to believe, but if it is true then all the passengers count as innocent bystanders so we can't accept it in any event. Thanks just the same, Philip.


Shadow said:
Definitely Toss: Other
As an airline employee, if this were true this Pilot would lose his liscense. No one is allowed in the cockpit of any aircraft in flight but crew. That includes family of crew. His First officer, flight attendants. Would have turned him in, and this would have been a national spectacle. I also agree with Bruce. That bystanders are involved here. Thanks tho Phillip!


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