Beech Bonanza Beached
It was seven years ago (19th May 2002) that we narrowly escaped meeting our maker a little earlier than planned! Brother Chris's cool thinking and excellence ensured that we made it though - from the big bang at 1000ft when the engine blew to ploughing into the shingle seabed at 90mph thirty seconds later.
My hazy memories consist of Chris commanding me to wedge open the door with my foot (not something one naturally wants to do high in the air!) in order to let out the smoke in the cockpit. And the call to the tower - "we're sending the emergency services...good luck to you all" being the final call. And then narrowly missing the Sunday sunbathers who, due to the lack of engine noise, were oblivious to the large lump of metal rapidly descending towards them!
Chris won the CAA General Aviation Safety Award (Tiger Moth Trophy) presented by Lord Glenarthur on 18th May 2003 at the RAF Club in London.
See the AAIB (Air Accident Investigation Branch) report
here.
UPDATE 2024 - See YouTube channel 'Pilot Debrief'
video on Buddy Holly's death in a similar craft
